XII. CARYOPHYLLACE^J. 59 



Sub-order 2. ALSINE^I. 



Sepals free, or only very slightly connected at the base. 

 Small, white, scaly stipules at the base of the leaves. 

 Styles 3. Leaves linear, cylindrical, opposite, not clus- 

 tered 11. SPERGULARIA. 



Styles 3. Leaves flat, the upper ones apparently 4 in a 



whorl 13. POLYCARPOX. 



Styles 5. Leaves linear, cylindrical, clustered so as to 



appear many in a whorl 12. SPERGUUL 



Leaves without any scales or stipules at the base. 

 Petals entire, or slightly jagged, or none, 

 Sepals 4 or 5, with the same number of styles. 

 Capsule opening in 4 or 5 valves. Small, matted, fine 



leaved plants 6. SAGTNA. 



Capsule opening at the top in 8 or 10 teeth. 



Plant glabrous, stiff, and erect. Petals quite entire . 7. M(ENCHIA. 

 Plant downy, much branched. Petals slightly 



notched 9. CBRASTIUM. 



Sepals 5. Styles 3 (rarely 4). * 



Petals quite entire or 6. ARENARIA. 



Petals slightly jagged 8. HOLOSTEUM. 



Petals 2-cleft. 

 Styles 3. 



Capsule opening to below the middle, in 6 valves . . 10. STELLARIA. 

 Capsule opening at the top, in 6 short teeth. Alpine 



plant, with narrow leaves CERASTTUM trigynum. 



Styles 5 (rarely 4). 

 Stem-leaves sessile. Capsule opening in 10 or 8 short 



teeth 9. CERASTTUM. 



Stem-leaves cordate, stalked. Capsule opening in 5 



entire or shortly split valves .... STELLARIA aquatiea. 



Among exotic genera, several Gypsophylla, from sonth-eastern Europe, 

 are occasionally cultivated in our flower-gardens, and Cucubalus baccifer, 

 from central and southern Europe, is said to have been formerly found 

 in the Isle of Dogs, introduced with ballast. 



I. DIANTHUS. PINK. 



Stiff perennials, or more rarely annuals, with narrow leaves. Calyx 

 tubular, 5-toothed, clasped at the base or covered by 2, 4, or 6 broad 

 scales or bracts. Petals usually crenate, or jagged. Stamens 10. 

 Styles 2. Capsule stalked within the calyx, opening in the top in 4 

 teeth or short valves. 



A considerable genus, spread over Europe and Asia, with a few South 

 African species. It is also one of the most natural in the family, 

 readily known by the scales under the calyx. 

 Annuals. Flowers small, r clustered together, the scales as long as 



the calyx. 



Plant glabrous. Scales broad, dry, and scarious . . . . 1. D. prolifer. 

 Plant slightly downy. Scales narrow, herbaceous, with long 



points 2. D. Armeria. 



Perennials. Flowers few on each stem, distinct, the scales much 



shorter than the calyx. 

 Lower leaves not half an inch long, green, and loosely tufted. 



Calyx-teeth and scales pointed. Flowers scentless . . . 3. D. deltoides, 

 Lower leaves near an inch, stiff, and glaucous. Calyx-teeth and 



scales broad, obtuse, or with minute points. Flowers scented 4. D. ccesius. 



Among the exotic species cultivated in gardens, are the Sweet- 

 William (D. barbatus), the Carnation and Clove Pink (varieties of D. 

 CaryophyUus), the Pheasant' t-eye Pink (D. plumarius), all from central 



