CARYOPHYLLACE.i;. 163 



1. F. grandifolia C. & S. Yerba Reuma. Erect or diffuse, 

 slightly woody at base, 8 to 13 in. high, smooth or somewhat pubes- 

 cent or short-hirsute, particularly at the nodes; leaves obovate to 

 linear-oblanceolate, 8 to 6 lines long, with revolute margins, sessile or 

 short-petiolate, the opposite pair mostly united by a somewhat mem- 

 branaceous sheathing base; calyx 3 lines long, narrow-cylindrical, 

 with acute teeth; petals slightly irregular, pinkish, exserted 1 to ij 

 lines, with oblong blade erose at summit; filaments sometimes slightly 

 dilated below the middle; capsule linear, angled, shorter than the 

 calyx; seeds numerous. 



Common along the seashore, in salt marahes, and on alkaline plains 

 of the interior. Flowering through the summer into autumn. 



24. CARYOPHYLLACE/C. Pink Family. 



Herbs of inert properties, with commonly swollen nodes, simple 

 and entire leaves always opposite, and regular perfect flowers. Calj'x 

 persistent. Corolla white, red or pink. Sepals and petals 5 (or 4), 

 the stamens as many and alternate with the petals or twice as many, 

 rarely fewer. Ovary superior, 1-celled (imperfectly 3-celled in some 

 Silenes), with 2 to 5 styles and 1 to many ovules on a free central 

 placenta. Fruit a few to many-seeded, 1-celled capsule dehiscent at 

 the summit by short valves or teeth (these as many or twice as many 

 as the carpels), or 1-seeded and indehiscent, thus becoming a nutlet or 

 utricle. Embryo in all ours curved around the periphery of the seed, 

 the endosperm occupying the center. 



A. Fruit a capsule. 

 Sepals united into a 5-tootlied tabular or campanulate calyx; petals narrowed 

 below into a conspicuous claw; these with the (10) stamens and ovary 

 ' frequently raised above the calyx on a stipe; stipules none; flowers mostly 



large and showy. 

 Styles 2, capsule opening by 4 short teeth; calyx with 5 prominent angles; 



petals not appendaged 1. Vaocaeia. 



Styles 3; capsule opening by 8 or 6 teeth or valves; claw of the petals com- 

 mouly bearing scales or appendages at its junction with the blade . . 



2. SiLENE. 



styles 5; capsule -coriaceous, opening by 5 teeth; ealyx-teeth conspicuously 

 prolonged; exceeding the large petals, these without appendages 



3. Ageostemma. 

 Sepals distinct; petals spreading, without claws or appendages, or In a few 



species wanting; stamens 10 or 5 or fewer; ovary not stipltate; fruit a 

 capsule; low herbs. 

 Stipules none. 



Petals retuse or bifid; styles 5, opposite the sepals 4. Ceeastiusi. 



Petiils parted almost to the base into narrow segments; styles 3 or 4 . . . . 



5. SXELLABIA. 



Petals entire; styles 3 6. Aeenaeia. 



Petals entire or slightly emarginate, or none; styles 5, opposite the sepals. . 



7. Sagina. 

 Stipules present, scarious (setaceous in no. 11). 

 Petals entire; mostly conspicuous for the group. 



Styles 3, distinct; leaves opposite 8. Tissa. 



Styles 6, distinct; leaves apparently whorled .9. Spergola. 



Petals minute or none. 

 Styles 3, short, tmited below; leaves opposite or in 4's, oblong or obovate 



10. POLYCAEPOX. 



Stvle short or none; leaves opposite, subulate, cuspidate. 11. Lceflingia. 



