CARYOPHYLLACEiE. 13 



Plate 101. 



MOLLUGO, L. 



Corolla nulla. Stamina 5, laciniis calycis alterna, seu 3 

 loculis ovarii alterna, hypogyna. Stigmata 3. Capsula 3- 

 locularis, loculicide 3-valvis, polysperma. — Folia plana 

 pseudo-verticillata, stipulis obsoletissimis. Flores saepius 

 pseudo-axillares. 



MoLLCGO, Linn. Gen. 139. Gsrtn. Fr. 2. p. 235. t. 130. f. 8. Wight &c 

 Arn. Prodr, Ind. Or. 1. p. 43. Fenzl in Ann. Wien. Mus. 1. p. 

 375 (excl. subgen.) & 2. p. 246. Endl. Gen. 5186. 



Indian Cliickweed. Carpct-'weed. 



Calyx spreading, of five oval sepals, which are colored 

 (white) inside and on the margins, quincuncially imbricated 

 in aestivation, persistent. Corolla none. Hypogynous disk 

 minute or none. Stamens hypogynous, as many as the se- 

 pals and alternate with them (or very rarely from 6 to 10, 

 the exterior series alternate with the sepals), or reduced to 

 three when they alternate with the cells of the ovary (one sta- 

 men being opposite the fourth sepal !) : filaments subulate : 

 anthers globular or oblong, two-celled, innate, the cells 

 opening longitudinally. Ovary ovoid, somewhat three-lobed, 

 three-celled, two of the cells placed nearly opposite the two 

 exterior sepals, the third opposite the sinus between the third 

 and fifth sepals : styles 3, short, the summit and whole in- 

 ner surface stigmatose. Ovules several or numerous, in two 

 series in each cell, horizontal, amphitropous. 



Fruit a membranaceous capsule, three-celled, three- 

 valved, loculicidal, the partitions separating from the central 

 seminiferous axis, and borne on the middle of the valves. 

 Seeds indefinite, campylotropous ; the testa crustaceous. 

 Embryo coiled into a nearly complete ring, surrounding the 

 central farinaceous albumen. 



