Caryophyllece Silene. 7 1 



3. S. ornata. A strong-growing annual species about 2 

 feet high, with large purple flowers. A native of the South of 

 Africa. 



4. S. pendula (fig. 48). This is one of the commonest and 

 prettiest of the tribe, either for edging or growing in masses. 

 It is about a foot high, with rosy purple or white flowers^ 

 appearing in May and June. A native of Sicily. 



5. S. maritima. A perennial native species with large 

 white flowers, about 8 lines in diameter. Stems spreading. 

 This is very near the common 8. inflata, but differs in its 

 diffuse habit, fewer flowers, and shortly cleft petals with broad 

 lobes having two scales at the base, 



6. S. Schdfta. This is one of the best of the perennial 

 species, distinguished by its dwarf habit, about 6 inches high, 

 lanceolate acute leaves, and large purple flowers, solitary or 

 two together. The calyx is very slightly inflated. It con- 

 tinues in bloom all the Summer. Siberia. 



7. S. acaulis. A very dwarf plant growing in dense tufts, 

 with small linear crowded leaves, and solitary pink or white 

 flowers on short peduncles. Petals shortly cleft, with a notched 

 scale at the base of the blade. This is found on the summits 

 of the higher mountains of Britain, and has a very wide distri- 

 bution in the temperate and Arctic regions of the northern 

 hemisphere-. 



8. S. fimbriata. This grows about 2 feet high, with ovate- 

 lanceolate leaves and large panicles of white flowers, remark- 

 able for their fringed petals and widely-inflated calyx, A 

 native of the Caucasus. 



6. LYCHNIS. 



A genus closely allied to the last, differing chiefly in having 

 more than three styles, usually five, more rarely four, and 

 larger flowers. About thirty species, all natives of the northern 

 temperate zone. From Xv%i>os-, a lamp or light, in allusion to 

 the bright-coloured flowers of some species. 



1. AGKOSTEMMA. Petals without scales at the base 



of the blade. 



1. L. coronaria (fig. 49). A tall biennial or perennial with 

 thick woolly leaves and large flowers on long peduncles. The 

 flowers are rose or purplish crimson, more rarely white ; but 

 the double purple is the handsomest variety. A native of the 

 South of Europe, flowering in Autumn. 



