48 CARYOPHYLLACE.E. (PINK FAMILY.) 



1. S. rubra, Pers. Sands or marshes along the coast, Florida and north- 

 ward. April and May. D Stems prostrate, much branched. Leaves linear, 

 longer than the joints. Seed with or without a membranaceous margin. 



6. SPERGULA, L. SPURREY. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 5 or 10. Styles 5. Capsule 5-valved, 

 the valves opposite the sepals. Embryo forming a ring around the albumen. 

 Leaves Avhorled. Flowers cymose, white. 



1. S. arvensis, L. Stem erect; leaves fleshy, narrow-linear, several in a 

 whorl; cyme loose, long-peduncled ; fruiting pedicels reflexed ; stamens 10; 

 seeds rough. Cultivated fields, Florida and northward : introduced. (J) . 



7. POLYCARPON, L. 



Sepals 5, carinate. Petals 5, emarginate, shorter than the sepals. Stamens 

 3-5. Styles 3, very short. Capsule 3-valved. Low annuals, with whorled 

 leaves, and minute flowers, in terminal cymes. 



1. P. tetraphyllum, L. Stems (3' -6') forking, diffuse; leaves spatti- 

 late-obovate, the lower ones 4 in a whorl, the upper opposite; sepals acute; 

 stipules conspicuous. Near Charleston. Introduced. May and June. 



8. MOLLUGO, L. 



Sepals 5. Petals none. Stamens 5 and alternate with the sepals, or 3 and 

 alternate with the cells of the ovary. Styles 3, short. Capsule 3-valved, 3-cclled, 

 many-seeded. Prostrate diffusely-branched annuals. Leaves whorled. Flow- 

 ers white, on slender axillary peduncles. 



1. M. verticillata, L. Smooth; leaves spatulatc-lanceolate, unequal, in 

 whorls of 4 - 8 ; fruiting peduncles reflexed ; stamens 3. Cultivated ground, 

 common. Introduced. May -August. 



9. SAGI3STA, L. 



Sepals 4-5. Petals 4-5, entire, or wanting. Stamens 4 - 10. Styles 4-5, 

 alternate with the sepals. Capsule 4 - 5-valved ; the valves entire, opposite the 

 sepals. Small herbs, with filiform forking stems, subulate leaves, and solitary 

 flowers. 



1. S. Elliottii, Fenzl. Smooth; stems erect or ascending, tufted ; pedun- 

 cles erect; petals and sepals 5, equal, obtuse; stamens 10. (Spergula dccum- 

 bens, Ell.) Damp cultivated ground, common. April -June. (1) Stems 

 2' -6' high. Peduncles 2-3 times as long as the sharp-pointed leaves. 



10. ALSINE, Tourn. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Styles 3. Capsule 1-celled, 3-valved, the 

 valves entire, opposite the inner sepals. Low slender herbs, with linear or sub- 

 ulate leaves, and white cymose or solitary flowers. 



