CARYOPHYLLACE^E. (PINK FAMILY.) 45 



ORDER 21. CARYOPHYLLACE^E. (PINK FAMILY.) 



Herbs with tumid joints, entire opposite or whorled, often connate leaves, 

 and regular hypogynous or perigynous cymose flowers. Stipules dry and 

 searious, or none. Sepals 4-5, imbricated in the bud, persistent. Petals 

 4-5, often stamen-like or none. Stamens as many as the sepals and op- 

 posite them (except Mollugo), or twice as many, or by abortion fewer. 

 Ovary free, 1 - 5-celled, with the amphitropous or campylotropous ovules 

 attached to a central placenta. Styles 2-5, distinct or partly united, 

 stigmatic along the inner side. Fruit valvate or indehiscent, 1 - many- 

 seeded. Embryo curved, or forming a ring around mealy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



TRIBE I. HjL.ECEBRE^E. Sepals distinci or united below. Petals often stamen- 

 like or wanting. Leaves with scarious stipules. 



* Fruit indehiscent, 1-seeded (utricle). 



1. PARONYCHIA. Sepals united at the base. Stamens inserted on the base of the sepals. 

 Style long. Utricle included. 



2. ANYCHIA. Sepals distinct. Stamens inserted on the base of the sepals. Style very 



short. Utricle partly exserted. 



3. SIPIIONYCHIA. Sepals united into a tube below the middle. Stamens inserted on the 



tube of the calyx. Style long. 



* * Fruit valvate, few - many-seeded. 



i- Leaves opposite. 



4. STIPULICIDA. Stem-leaves minute ; the lowest spatulate. Flowers in terminal clusters. 



5. SPERGULARIA. Leaves all linear. Flowers solitary, axillary. 



i- *- Leaves whorled. 



6. SPERGULA. Styles 5. Stamens 5 - 10. Capsule 5-valved. 



7. POLYCARPON. Styles 3. Stamens 3 -5. Capsule 3- valved. 



TRIBE II. MOI^IiUGIlVE^E. Stamens alternate with the sepals, when of the same 

 number ; when three, alternate with the cells of- the ovary. Stipules none. 



8. MOLLUGO. Capsule 3-celled. Leaves whorled. 



TRIBE III. ALSINEJE. Sepals separate or nearly so. Stamens opposite the sepala 

 when of the same number. Ovary sessile. Stipules none. 



* Valves of the capsule as many as the styles. 



9. S AGIN A. Styles and valves 4-5. 



10. ALSINE. Styles and valves 3. 



* * Valves or teeth of the capsule twice as many as the styles. 



11. ARENARIA. Valves of the capsule 2-4, each soon 2-cleft- Petals entire. 



12. STELL ARIA. Valves of the capsule 6 - 10. Petals 2-cleft. 



13. CERASTIUM. Capsule 8-10-toothed. 



TRIBE IV. SILENE^E. Sepals united into a tube. Petals and stamens inserted on the 

 stipe of the ovary. Stipules none. 



14. SILENE. Styles 3. Capsule 6- toothed. 



15. SAPONARIA. Styles 2. Capsule 4 -toothed. 



16. AGROSTEMMA. Styles 5. Capsule 5-toothed. 



