382 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS I BOTANY. 



2. PORTULACA PiLOSA Linn. 



Leaves linear, terete, obtuse, with tufts of hairs in the axils. Flowers 

 sessile. Petals red, twice as long as the sepals. 



(U. S. to S. Amer.) ; N. Patagon., along the Rio Negro, not rare. 



P. PILOSA MUCRONATA (Link.). 



Leaves oblong, sharply acuminate. 



5. MONOCOSMIA Fenzl. 



Sepals 2, persistent, with a dorsal nerve. Petals 3-4. Stamen i, 

 Ovary superior, with i style and 2 terminal stigmas, unilocular ; ovules 3-4, 

 basal. Capsule bivalved, i-2-seeded. Annual herb, with prostrate stems, 

 many leaves and minute flowers, in terminal and axillary inflorescences. 



Species i, Chili, Patagonia. 



M. MONANDRA (R. & Pav. sub Talintim} Pax. 



Basal leaves rhomboid-lanceolate, petiolate, cauline, sessile. Seed black. 

 (Chili) ; Chubut, in hills along Carren-leofu. 



Family 37. CARYOPHYLLACE^E. The Pink Family. 



Herbs, with opposite, entire leaves, the nodes mostly swollen, and per- 

 fect, regular, 4-5-merous flowers with persistent calyx, free petals, stamens 

 mostly twice as many, and superior i -celled ovary with 2-5 styles and free 

 central placenta. Embryo curved around endosperm. Petals sometimes 

 none; and fruit sometimes a i -seeded achene. 



Species 1,500, abounding chiefly in the northern hemisphere (includ- 

 ing Paronychiece and Illecebrecz which are sometimes perigynous). 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



A\. Sepals united (Silenoidece). Stamens hypogynous. Leaves exstipulate. 



b. Styles 3 (4). Capsule-teeth twice as many. Capsule several-celled at its base. 



1. Silene, p. 383. 

 &2. Styles 3-5. Capsule-teeth twice as many; capsule i-celled from the base. 



3. Melandryum, p. 384. 

 3. Styles and capsule-teeth usually 5. Capsule I -celled throughout. 



2. Lychnis, p. 384. 

 Az. Sepals distinct or nearly so (Alsinoidece). Stamens often perigynous. 



b. Fruit a dehiscent capsule. 



