16 CARYOPHYLLACEiE. 



farinaceous albumen : radicle and the linear slender cotyle- 

 dons superior ; the latter occupying the side next to the 

 funiculus ! 



Herbs of small size and insignificant appearance, dichoto- 

 mous and cymose ; with the linear or subulate opposite 

 leaves connate at the base, entirely destitute of stipules ; 

 the small flowers subsessile in the forks of the branches, 

 forming leafy or bracteate paniculate or corymbose cymes. 



Etymology. From a-KXrjpos, hard, and avdos, flower; in allusion to the 

 induration of the fructiferous calyx. 



Geographical Distribution. Natives of the temperate regions of both 

 hemispheres ; but probably not truly indigenous to the United States. 



Note. This genus of insignificant weeds has been assumed as the type 

 of a separate order ; but it differs from the Ulecebreae only in wanting the 

 stipules. Many Ulecebreae have the fructiferous calyx equally indurated ; 

 and the ensuing genus shows a similar union of the sepals into a tube. Mr. 

 Sprague, however, notices that the ovule is retrorsely resupinate in Scleran- 

 thus, the radicle therefore occupying the side of the seed remote from the 

 funiculus ; but introrsely resupinate in those Paronychieas which have the 

 seed inverted, the radicle accordingly lying next the funiculus. 



PLATE 103. ScLERANTHUS ANNUUS, Linn.; — of the natural size. 



1. A branchlet, with a flower, a bud, and leaves, magnified. 



2. A magnified flower, with the calyx cut away and spread open. 



3. Vertical section of the pistil, magnified, showing the ovule in place. 



4. Magnified stamen, seen from the outside. 



5. Same, seen from the inside, showing the dehiscence of the anther. 



6. Fructiferous calyx, enlarged. 



7. Seed with its funiculus, magnified. 



8. Vertical section through the fructiferous calyx and the seed, in place, 



(the delicate utricle not represented,) showing the embryo coiled 

 around the albumen. 



