122 33. PARONYCHIACE.E. 



Order XXXIII. PARONYCHIACE^E. 



Cal. 5-parted, rarely 4 or 3, aestivation imbricate. Pet. mi- 

 nute and resembling abortive stam. or 0. Stani. indefinite, op- 

 posite the sep. (when the same number), somewhat hypogynous. 

 Ovary free. Styles 2 or 3. Fr. dry, 3-valved or indehiscent ; 

 placenta central. Embryo more or less curved. Albumen fari- 

 naceous. Perhaps the whole Order should be joined to Caryo- 

 phyllacecB. 



* With stipules, sep. slightly connected. 



Tribe I. PARONYCHIE^E. Caps. 1-seeded. Pet. 0,or small 

 and subulate. 



1. CORRIGIOLA. Sep. 5. Pet. 5, oblong, equalling the sepals. 

 Stam. 5. Stigmas 3, sessile. Fr. 1-seeded, indehiscent. 

 Seed suspended by its seed-stalk which arises from the base 

 of the capsule. L. alternate. 



2. HERNIARIA. Sep. 5. Pet. 5, filiform, inserted with the 

 5 stam. on a perigynous ring. Stigmas 2, nearly sessile. 

 Fr. 1-seeded, indehiscent, membranous. L. opposite. 



3. ILLECEBRUM. Sep. 5, thickened, horned at the back. 

 Pet. or 5, subulate, inserted with the 5 stam. on a perigy- 

 nous ring. Stigmas 2. Fr. 1-seeded, furrowed, bursting 

 along the 5 furrows. 



Tribe II. SPERGULE^E. Caps. 1 -celled, 35- valved, many- 

 seeded. 



4. POLYCARPON. Sep. keeled on the back, hooded at the 

 end. Pet. 5, emarginate., Stam. 3 5. Styles 3, short. 

 Fr. 1 -celled, 3-valved, many-seeded. 



5. LEPIGONUM. Sep. 5, flattish. Pet. 5, entire, as long as 

 the calyx. Stam. 510. Styles 3 or 5, Fr. 3 5-valved, 

 many-seeded; valves fewer than or alternate with the sepals. 



6. SPERGULA. Sep. 5. Pet. 5, entire, as long as the calyx. 

 Stam. 5 10. Styles 5. Fr. 5-valved, many-seeded; valves 

 opposite the sepals. 



** Without stipules, sep. tubular below. 



Tribe III. SCLERANTHE^E. Caps. 1-seeded, inclosed in the 

 hardened cal.-tube. 



7 SCLERANTHUS. Tube of the cal. urceolate, contracted at 

 the mouth by a glandular ring ; limb 5-fid. Pet. 0. Stam. 

 10 rarely 5, inserted in the throat of the calyx. Styles 2. 

 Fr. membranous. G. F. G. Monochl. 77. 



