7<D Gary op hy llece Silene. 



Capsule 6-valved at the top. Seeds numerous, rough on the 

 surface ; embryo curved. Nearly all the species are from the 

 northern hemisphere, and especially abundant in the Mediter- 

 ranean region. So named from the Greek a-ia\ov, saliva, many 

 species being covered with a viscid excretion, which is suffi- 

 ciently adhesive in some to hold small insects ; hence the 

 English name Catchfly. 



1. S. Armeria. An erect annual with unbranched viscid 

 stems about 18 inches high, and glaucous smooth leaves. 

 Flowers small, in dense terminal cymes, bright rosy carmine. 

 A very pretty plant when grown in tufts. There are dull- 

 coloured varieties and one quite white. This is occasionally 

 met with in this country on old walls, &c. 



2. S. compdcta (fig. 47). A similar but much prettier 



Fig. 47. Silene compacta. (J nat. size.) Fig. 48. Silene pendula. (J nat. size.) 



species from Southern Russia and the Caucasus. The flowers 

 are of the same colour as in the preceding, but larger. It is, 

 however, a tender and delicate plant requiring a dry sheltered 

 position. ../-.' 



