644 CLXXXIII. PAKONYCHIE^. 



equal or double the number of the sepals. OVARY free, I-celled. FRUIT dry, 1-seeded. 

 ALBUMEN farinaceous. EMBRYO curved or peripheric. 



Herbaceous or suffruticose PLANTS, very much branched, usually prostrate. 

 LEAVES usually opposite, sometimes fascicled and in false whorls, sessile, small, 

 entire ; stipules scarious, rarely obsolete (Scleranthus, Mniarum). FLOWERS small, 

 usually whitish or greenish, sessile or in axillary or terminal cymes often 'accom- 

 panied by arrested sometimes plumose branchlets ; bracts stipular. CALYX of 54 

 more or less coherent sepals, imbricate in aestivation. PETALS small, squamiform, 

 resembling staminodes, imbricate in jestivation, inserted on the calyx, alternate with 

 its lobes, and usually of the same number, rarely (Scleranthus, Pteranthus, &c.), or 

 transformed into supernumerary stamens. STAMENS inserted on the calyx, opposite 

 to its lobes, and equal or rarely fewer in number (Pollichia, Mniarum), or twice as 

 many from the metamorphosis of the petals (Scleranthus) ; filaments distinct ; anthers 

 2-celled, introrse. OVARY free, 1-celled ; style usually 2-partite or -fid ; ovule soli- 

 tary, rarely 2 (Pollichia), serni-anatropous, basilar, erect, or pendulous from a basal 

 funicle. FRUIT dry, small, usually membranous, 1 -seeded. SEED with farinaceous 

 albumen. EMBRYO cylindric, lateral, curved or annular; cotyledons small; radicle 

 turned towards the hilum, 



[The following grouping of Paronychiece is that prepared for the * Genera 

 Plantarum ' : 



TRIBE I. PARONYCHIECE. Flowers axillary or cymose, usually g > homomorphous. Em- 

 bryo terete. Leaves opposite, very rarely alternate ; stipules scarious. Paronychia, Anychia, 

 Gymnocwpits, Hcrniaria, Illecebrum, Pollichia, Corrigiola, &c. 



TRIBE II. PTERANTHE*. Flowers ternate on the top of a peduncle, lateral imperfect, 

 surrounded by rigid simple or pinnatipartite bracts. Leaves opposite ; stipules scarious or 0. 

 Pteranthus, Gametes (Saltia), Dicheranthus. 



TRIBE III. SCLERANTHE^E. Flowers axillary, panicled, or 2-4 at the top of a peduncle. 

 Leaves opposite, connate at the base, exstipulate. Scleranthus, Habrosia, Mniarum. ED.] 



ALLIED TEIBE. TELEPHIE&. 



Calyx, andrcecium, placentation, ovules and seeds as in Paronychiece. Style 

 3-partite, or stigmas 3, recurved. Fruit a 1-seeded indehiscent utricle, enveloped in 

 the calyx (Corrigiola), or a many- seeded capsule with 3 valves (Telephium). Leaves 

 alternate, glaucous ; stipules scarious. Flowers in racemes or terminal cymes. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Corrigiola. 1 Telephium. 8 



Parmiychiece are closely allied to Caryophyllea in aestivation, insertion, placentation, and albumen ; 

 they differ in habit, scale-like petals or 0, scarious stipules, &c. They are equally near Amarantaceai in 

 the 1-celled ovary, curved basilar ovule, and farinaceous albumen j but Amarantaccce are more obviously 

 apetalous, and are hypogynous, exstipulate, &c. 



1 Corrigiola should be retained in Paronychiea proper, * Telephium is referable to MoHuginete (pp. 261,461), 



on account of its indehiscent fruit. ED. having obvious petals and dehiscent fruit. ED. 



