POLYPETAL^— CARYOPHYLLACE^ 



131 



introrse. Nectaries («) five, very small knobs standing outside 

 the five inner stamens and, therefore, opposite the sepals. 



Vertical section of flower of Stellaria media. 



Carpels three, syncarpous, superior : styles three : ovary (pv) 

 one-chambered, with many ovules on a central placenta. 

 Fruit (fig. 1 24) a capsule, opening by six valves. Seed (fig. 117) 

 small, kidney-shaped, with perisperm. Variations in the 

 flower. — The sepals and carpels 

 remain constant in number (ex- 

 cepting that very rarely the sepals 

 may be six in number). In 

 some flowers the five stamens 

 which should be opposite the 

 petals are wanting : in others 

 there are only three stamens, 

 which are opposite three sepals : 

 in still other flowers no stamens 

 are present, so that the flower is 

 carpellary. Again, in some cases 

 the petals are wanting. Pollin- 

 ation. — The plants are found in 

 flower throughout the year. 

 The honey is accessible to 

 short-tongued insects, and the flowers are cross - pollinated 



Fig. 160. — Floral diagram of 

 Stellaria media. 



