190 XXIII. CARYOPHYLLACE2E. SILENE. 



Stems numerous, filiform, 2 4 A high. Sepals acute, shorter than the capsule. 

 May Jn. 



6. M O L L ft G O. 



Calyx of 5 sepals, inferior, united at base, colored inside ; corolla 

 0; stamens 5, sometimes 3 or 10; filaments setaceous, shorter than, 

 and opposite to the sepals ; anthers simple ; capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, 

 many-seeded ; seeds reniform. Lvs. at length apparently verticillate, 

 each whorl consisting of 1 or 2 large, substipulate leaves^ with several 

 axillary ', smaller ones. 



M. VERTICILLATA. Carpet-weed. 



Lvs. cuneiform, acute ; st. depressed, branched ; pedicels 1-flowered, sub- 

 umbellate ; sta. mostly but 3. (p A small, prostrate plant, in dry places through- 

 out N. Am. Stems slender, jointed, branched, lying flat upon the ground. At 

 every joint stands a whorl of wedge-shaped or spatulate leaves of unequal size, 

 usually five in number, and a few flowers, each on a solitary stalk which is 

 very slender and shorter than the petioles. Flowers small, white. Jl, Sep. 



TRIBE 2. SILEXEJE. 



Sepals united into a cylindrical tube. Petals clawed, inserted with the stamens 

 upon the stipe of the ovary. 



7. SILENE. 



Silenus was a drunken divinity of the Greeks, covered with slaver, as these plants are with a viscid secretion. 



Calyx tubular, swelling, without scales at base, 5-toothed ; petals 5, 

 unguiculate, often crowned with scales at the mouth, 2-cleft ; stamens 

 10 ; styles 3 ; capsule 3-celled, many-seeded. 



* Calyx vesicular, inflated ; petals scarcely crowned. 



1. S. ACAULIS. Stemless Campion. 



Low and densely csespitose ; Ivs. linear, ciliate at base ; ped. solitary, 

 short, 1-flowered; cal. campanulate, slightly inflated; pet. obcordate, crowned. 

 % A little turfy plant, 1 3' high, on the White Mts., N. H., and throughout 

 Arctic Am. Stems scarcely any. Leaves numerous, ' long. Flowers purple. 



2. S. STELLATA. Ait. (Cucubalus stellatus. Linn.) Stellate Campion. 

 Erect, pubescent ; Ivs. in whorls of 4s, oval-lanceolate, acuminate ; cal. 



loose and inflated ; pet. fimbriate. 7J. An elegant plant, woods and prairies, 

 Can. to Car., W. to 111. ! and Ark. Stem 2 3f high, paniculately cymose. Leaves 

 2 3' long, as wide, tapering to a long point, sessile. Calyx pale-green, with 

 more deeply colored veins. Petals white, lacerately fringed, claws webbed 

 at base. Jl. 



3. S. NIVEA. DC. (Cucubalus niveus. Nutt.~) Snowy Campion. 



Minutely puberulent, erect, simple or dichotomous above ; Ivs. oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate ; fls. few, terminal ; cal. inflated, with short and obtuse 

 teeth ; pet. 2-cleft, with a small bifid crown ; caps, stiped. 1\. in moist places, 

 Penn., Ohio, near Cincinnati, (Clark !) 111. Stem slender, leafy. If 3f high, 

 generally forked near the top. Leaves 2 3' by 4 f ', tapering to a very slender 

 point, floral ones lance-ovate. Flowers 1 3. Calyx reticulated. Petals white. 



4. S. INFLATA. Smith. (Cucubalus Behen. Linn.} Bladder Campion. 

 Glabrous and glaucous ; Ivs. ovate-lanceolate ; fls. in cymose panicles, 



drooping ; cal. ovoid-globular, reticulated with veins. %. in pastures about 

 fences, Charlestown, Ms. ! &c. Stem erect, about 2f high. Leaves 1 3' long, 

 i as wide, rather acuminate. Petals white, cleft half-way down. Calyx re- 

 markably inflated, and reticulated with pale purple veins. Jl. The young 

 shoots and leaves may be used as a substitute for asparagus. 

 ** Calyx not inflated. Petals crowned. 



5. S. ANTIRRHINA. Snap-dragon Catch-fly. 



Nearly smooth ; st. erect ; Ztw. lanceolate, acnte, sub-ciliate ; ped. trifid, 



