Silene.] caryophyllace^. 61 



Flowers from 3 — 8 or move in solitary, terminal, stalked heads not an inch long, 

 surrounded by 6 ovate, whitish, uneciual, chaffy scales, and every blossom by 2 

 similar ones concealing il whilst in the bud. Calyx very long and narrow, with 

 5 coloured tapering ribs. Petals lilac, very small and inconspicuous, notched and 

 with a dark central line towards the claw, those of one flower only expanding at a 

 time on the same head. Capsule oblong, pale, the apex a little oblique, finally 

 rending the calyx by its increasing size, and giving each head a broader or more 

 expanded form. Seeds brownish black, curiously hollowed on the side of their 

 attachment, with incurved edges, their outer face convex with a kind of beak at 

 one end, covered with regular prominent points. 



In this, as in some other species of Dianthus, only one or two flowers expand 

 at a time in the same head. The present plant is more remarkable for the 

 minuteness of its blossoms, the tenuity of its stem and leaves, and its rarity, than 

 for beauty, being in fact the least ornamental of the whole genus. The flowers 

 continue open from an early hour in the morning till the afternoon. 



II. Saponaeia, Linn. Soapwort. 



" Calyx monophyllous, cylindrical, 5-toothed, without bracteas 

 at the base. Petals 5, clawed. Stamens 10, alternate ones oppo- 

 site the petals but not adhering to their claws. Styles 2. Cap- 

 side oblong, 1 -celled, or 2-celled at the base, 4-toothed. Seeds 

 globose or reniform." — Br. Fl. 



1. S. officinalis, L. Common Soapwort. " Leaves ovato-lan- 

 ceolate, calyx cylindrical glabrous, capsule 2-celled at the base." 

 —Br. FL p. 57. E. B. t. 1060. 



0. Flowers double. 



In moist meadows, by river-sides, along hedges and the borders of woods, 

 scarcely indigenous with us. Fl. July, August. If. 



E. Med. — In a little plantation of shrubs nearly opposite the parsonage at 

 Yaverland ; very doubtfully wild. 



The fact of our specimens bearing double flowers is not conclusive of their hav- 

 ing escaped from a garden, as this plant betrays a great tendency to become 

 double in places where it is indubitably wild. The suspicious nature of the loca- 

 lity alone makes me hesitate to regard it as indigenous. 



III. Selene, Linn. Catchfly. Bladder Campion. 



" Calyx monophyllous, tubular, often ventricose, 5-toothed. 

 Petals 5, clawed, mostly crowned at the mouth, and the limh gene- 

 rally notched or bifid. Stamens 10, alternate ones opposite to 

 the petals and adhering to the claws. Styles 3. Capsule 3-celled 

 to the middle or only at the base (rarely 1-celled), 6-toothed, 

 manj'-seeded." — Br. Fl. 



* Flowers panided. Calyx inflated, bladdery. 



1. S. inflata, Sm. Bladder Campion. Spatling Poppy. Vect. 

 Bull-rattles. " Flowers numerous panicled, petals deeply cloven 

 with narrow segments scarcely crowned, calyx inflated reticulated, 

 stem erect, leaves ovato-lanceolate." — Br. Fl. p. 58. Cucubalus 

 Behen, E. B. t. 164. 



In dry pastures, on hedgebanks, by waysides and borders of fields, also amongst 

 corn, &c., very common. Fl. June — August. If. 



