208 ON SEEDLINGS 



embedded in the axis of the mealy endosperm. It is ovoid and 

 cylindrical, and the radicle, which is close to the hilum, equals 

 the cotyledons in length or is shorter. 



There are from twelve to thirty species of Frankenia 

 according to different authors, consisting of perennial ever- 

 green herbs like our native F. Isevis, or of much-branched 

 suffruticose plants. No seedlings have come under my 

 observation. The leaves of the older plant are small and 

 opposite or fascicled on the shortened axillary shoots. 



CARYOPHYLLE.E. 



Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. i. 141. 



The ovary is superior, syncarpous, of two to five carpels, 

 and usually one-celled, with the ovules arising from a central 

 or basal placenta. There are two carpels in Dianthus, 

 Velezia, Tunica, Gypsophila, Acanthophyllum, and Saponaria ; 

 three in Silene, Cucubalus, Stellaria, Spergularia, and others ; 

 and five in Lychnis, Cerastium, and others. But many of 

 these vary greatly in different species; for instance, there 

 are generally three in Arenaria, but species occur with two, 

 four, or five carpels. In the young condition of the ovary 

 septa are often discernible, but vanish as a rule during 

 development of the fruit. There are, however, exceptions; 

 and amongst those observed Silene gallica, S. noctiflora, S. 

 tatarica, and S. depressa are three-celled even when mature. 

 The ovules are usually numerous, but vary from two to many, 

 Queria, however, having only one. They are amphitropous 

 and ascending with the micropyle inferior or transverse. 

 The fruit is a capsule dehiscing by teeth or valves, rarely 

 fleshy as in Cucubalus and indehiscent as in the latter, and 

 in Drypis. 



The seeds are usually numerous, or few by arrest, smooth, 

 tubercular, muricate, or reticulate, sometimes winged, as in 

 Spergularia marina, and marginate, as in Tunica pachygona, 

 some species of Spergula, Dianthus, &c. 



