104 



DE CANDOLLES SYSTEM. 



24. Elatinaceee. Lijttle weedy annuals. Leaves oppo- 

 site, with stipules. Flowers minute. Sepals 3-5. Petals 

 hypogynous. Stamens definite. Ovary 3-5-celled; styles 

 3-5; stigmas capitate. Fruit capsular. Seeds numerous, 

 embryo straight, with but little albumen. 



USES. Unknown. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Elatine, Bergia. 



25. CaryopTiyllaceae. Herbaceous plants with opposite 

 undivided exstipulate leaves, and tumid nodes. Sepals 4-5. 

 Petals often slit. Stamens definite. Ovary usually many- 

 seeded, with a free central placenta. Stigmas sessile, 2-5. 

 Capsule 2-5-valved. Seeds usually with the embryo curved 

 round mealy albumen. 



USES. Unimportant. Some species bear gay flowers; 

 more are weeds; a few are fragrant, as the Pink. Silene 

 Virginica is said to have an anthelmintic root. 



There are two sections of this order : 



1. Alsinea. Sepals disjoined. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Stellaria, Cerastium. 



2. Silenete. Sepals united into a tube. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Lychnis, Silene, Dianthus. 



1 iun \ a ; f *?**' 2 - A flower of Stellaria mcdi <% 



vrtv o PW J L \ US Placenta loaded with seeds - 5 ' A * 

 rtically, to show the embryo curved round mealy albumen' 



*<*- 3. 



through 



