52 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Root a tap-root, producing 1 or more erect slender stems 3 incbes 

 to 2 feet liigh, with ascending brandies in the upper part in large 

 examples. Leaves short, -I to f inch long, lanceolate-linear, sca- 

 brous, with minute prickles at the margins. Heads of flowers about 

 f inch long, enclosed in about 6 pale yellowish-olive scales of the 

 consistence of parchment, which enclose from 1 to 11 flowers, each 

 flower except the central one completely rolled up in a scale* similar 

 to those just mcationed. Calyx very long and slender, membranous 

 at the top and along the line of junction of the sepals. Flowers 

 about y to f inch across, pale purplish-red, only one opening in each 

 head at a time. Caj)sule ovoid-fusiform, rupturing the calyx as it 

 increases in size. Seeds blackish, obovate, nearly flat above and 

 concave below, mth the edges incurved and the hilum in the centre. 

 Plant slightly glaucous, glabrous. 



Froliferous Finh, CMlding Fink, Limewort. 



French, (Eilkt Prolifere. German, Sprossende Felsnelkt. 



GENUS II.—B APONARIA. Linn. 



Flowers without involucral scales at the base of the calyx. 

 Calyx sub-cylindrical, o-toothed at the apex, without prominent 

 nerves to indicate the line of demarcation between the sepals, each 

 of which has from 3 to 5 nerves. Petals 6, with long claws (which 

 are usually furnished with raised longitudinal bands) and spreading 

 lamina?, generally with small scales at the base forming a crown. 

 Stamens 10. Torus usually more or less elongated into a very 

 short stalk-like gynophore between the calyx and other parts of 

 the flower. Styles 2. Capsule oblong-ovoid, without partitions, 

 or sometimes with 2 rudimentary ones, opening at the apex by 

 4 teeth or short valves. Seeds reniform, tviberculated, laterally 

 compressed, having the hilum on one of the margins. Embryo 

 peripherical, forming nearly a cu'cle. 



Annual or perennial herbs, with lilac, red, or yellowish flowers, 

 in dichotomous paniculate or fasciculate cymes. 



The name of this genus comes from sapo, soap ; so called because the bruised leaves 

 are said to produce a lather like soap wheu agitated in water. 



* Some authors describe the calj'x as wrapped in two scales ; but in all the 

 specimens which I have had an opportunity of dissecting I have been able to find 

 only one. 



