100 LETTER VII. 



sepals joined together and separated only near the 

 points. Five petals arise from within them, each of 

 which has a stalk and a blade ; the stalks, or claws 

 as they are called (ungues)^ are very narrow, and 

 stand side bv side within the calvx ; the blades are 

 much expanded, and irregularly lacerated at the 

 end. 



Stamens there are ten, rising from beneath the 

 ovary, out of a short stalk (Plate VII. I- fig- 2. a.). 

 The ovary is superior, and contains but one cell, in 

 the centre of which is a slender receptacle (Jig. 3. «.), 

 covered with a great many ovules. The styles are 

 two, each terminating insensibly in very narrow 

 fringed stigmas. 



The fruit becomes a dry case or capsule, opening at 

 the point with four teeth or valves (Jig. 4.). The 

 structure of the seed is variable, and not important 

 for our present purpose. 



Such is the character of the Pink, and such to a 

 great extent is that of the tribe it represents. It may 

 be said to consist in these marks. Stems swoln at 

 the joints ; leaves opposite ajid undivided; stamens few 

 and hypogynous ; ovary with many styles, one cell, and 

 a central receptacle covered with ovules. Nothing 

 like this has been previously shewn to you. The 

 genera are very uniform in their structure, and 

 are distinguished by marks that every one may ob- 

 serve. Two divisions are formed, one of which has 

 the sepals united into a tube, the other has them all 

 distinct. 



In the first division is found the Pink, which is 



