32 COMMON CANADIAN WILD PLANTS. 



ORDER XVI. CARYOPHYLLA'CEJE. (PINK FAMILY.) 

 Herbs with opposite (occasionally whorled) and entire 

 leaves, the stems swollen at the joints. Flowers regular, with 

 the parts mostly in fives, occasionally in fours. Stamens 

 not more than twice as many as the petals. Styles 2-5, 

 stigmatic along the inner side. Pod usually 1-celled, with 

 the seeds attached to the base, or to a column which rises 

 from the centre of the cell. (Part I., Fig. 194.) 



Synopsis of the Geiiera. 



* Sepals united into a tube or cup. Petals and stamens borne on the 



stalk of the ovary ; petals with long narrow claws. 



1. Sapona'ria. Calyx cylindrical or 5-angled. Styles 2. 



2. Silo' no. Calyx 5-toothed. Styles 3. 



3. I.ycli nis. Calyx 5-toothed. Styles 5. 



* * Sepals separate to the base or nearly so. Petals without claws, they 



and the stamens inserted at the base of the sessile ovary. 

 Low herbs. 



4- Stipules none. 



4. Arena'rla. Petals not cleft at the apex. Styles usually 3. Pod 



splitting into 3 or 6 valves. 



5. Stella' rla. Petals 2-cleft at the apex. Pod splitting to the base into 



twice as many valves as there are styles. Styles generally 3. 



6. < vr.-is I i ii in. Petals 2-cleft, or notched. Styles 5. Pod opening at 



the apex by 10 teeth. 



7. Sagi'iia. Petals 4 or 5, entire. Stamens as many or twice as many. 



Styles 4 or 5. Pod 4-5-valved. 



*- *- Stipules present. 



8. Biula. Styles 3. Pod 3-valved, short. Leaves filiform or linear, 



opposite. 



9. Sper'gnla. Styles 5. Valves of the pod opposite the sepals. Leaves 



thread-like, whorled. 



1. SAPONARIA, L. SOAFWORT. 



1. S. offleina'lis, L. (BOUNCING BET.) A stout perennial, 

 with rose-coloured or pinkish flowers clustered in corymbs. 

 Leaves 3-5-ribbed, the lower ovate, upper lanceolate. Pod 

 raised on a short stalk. Styles 2. Old gardens and road- 

 sides. 



2. S. vaeea'ria, L. (COMMON COW-HERB.) Annual, gla- 

 brous. Flowers pale red. in corymbed cymes. Calyx 5- 

 angled, wing-angled in fruit. Waste places. 



