THE PURSLANE TRIBE. 101 



known by the bracts at the base of its calyx {fig- 4. 

 a. ) ; and some others, of which the following are the 

 most remarkable ; Silene or Catchfly which has three 

 styles and a crest at the top of the stalk of each petal ; 

 it derives its English name from its often secreting a 

 viscid matter in which flies are caught ; the Cockle 

 (Agrostemma) which has five styles and undivided 

 petals ; Lychnis, to which the Ragged Robin (L. flos 

 Cuculi), and Batchelors Buttons (L. dioica) belong ; 

 to say nothing of the splendid Chalcedonian Lychnis of 

 the gardens, which has five styles and divided petals. 



To the second division we refer Ckickweed (Stellaria), 

 w^hich has three styles and two-lobed petals. Sandwort 

 (Arenaria), which has three styles and undivided 

 petals, and Mouse-ear Chickiceed (Cerastium), which 

 has five styles and a curiously shaped taper seed- 

 case with ten teeth. 



So little interest attaches to these plants that I leave 

 them here, and proceed to notice another order 

 which resembles them in many respects ; and which 

 is upon the whole more beautiful. 



Imagine you have a Chickweed with two sepals and 

 one style, all the other points of structure in the flower 

 remaining the same ; and you w ill have an order 

 that, while it seems to resemble the Chickweed tribe 

 so much as to be almost identical with it, neverthe- 

 less differs in several important particulars in the 

 manner of growth. Not only are the leaves alter- 

 nate instead of opposite, and the stem destitute of 

 swellings at the joints, but there is a constant dis- 

 position on the part of the stems and leaves to become 



