PINK FAMILY. 73 



2. SOLBA, GREEN VIOLET. (For William Sole, author of an essay 

 on British Mints.) 2/ 



S. cdncolor, Ging. l-2 high ; stems leafy, with 1-3 small, greenish, 

 axillary flowers ; leaves oblong, entire. N. Y. to Kan. and S. 



XVI. CARYOPHYLLACE^), PINK FAMILY. 



Bland herbs, with opposite, entire leaves, regular flowers with 

 not over 10 stamens, a commonly 1-celled ovary with the ovules 

 rising from the bottom of the cell or on a central column, and 

 with 2-5 styles or sessile stigmas, mostly separate to the 

 base. (Lessons, p. 108, Figs. 331, 332.) Seeds with a slender 

 embryo on the outside of a mealy albumen, and usually curved 

 into a ring around it. Calyx persistent. Petals sometimes 

 minute or wanting. Two great divisions or tribes, viz. the true 

 PINK FAMILY and the CHICKWEED FAMILY. 



I. PINK SUBFAMILY. Sepals (5) united below into a 

 tube or cup. Petals with slender claws, which are inclosed in 

 the calyx tube, and commonly raised within it (with the 10 

 stamens), on a sort of stalk, often with a cleft scale or crown 

 at the junction of the blade and claw. (Lessons, p. 90, Fig. 

 248.) Pod mostly opening at the top, many-seeded. 



* Calyx with a scaly cup or set of bracts at its base; seeds attached by their face; 

 embryo nearly straight. 



1. DIANTHUS. Calyx cylindrical, faintly many-striate. Petals without a crown. Styles 2. 



* * Calyx naked at base; seeds attached by the edge; embryo curved. 

 +- Styles 2. 



2. SAPONAKIA. Calyx cylindrical, pyramidal, or oblong, often angled, 5-toothed. Pod 



4-valved at the top. 



3. GYPSOPHILA. Calyx bell-shaped, 5-cleft, or thin and delicate below the sinuses. Pod 



4-valved. Flowers small and panicled, resembling those of Sandwort, etc. 

 -- -- Styles 3 or more. 



4. LYCHNIS. Styles 5, rarely 4. Calyx opening by 5 or more teeth. 



5. SILENE. Styles 3. Calyx opening by 3-6 teeth. 



II. CHICKWEED SUBFAMILY. Petals spreading, 

 without claws, occasionally wanting. Sepals (4 or 5) separate, 

 or united only at base, or rarely higher up. Flowers small, 

 compared with the Pink Family, and the plants usually low 

 and spreading or tufted. 



* Without stipules ; generally with, petals ; pod several-seeded. 

 +- Styles opposite the sepals, or when fewer, opposite those which are exterior in the bud. 



6. ARENAEIA. Petals entire, rarely none. Styles commonly 3. Pod globular or oblong f 



splitting; into as many or twice as many valves as there are styles. 



