50N 



BOTANY 



with numerous ovules. Fruit usually a capsule (Figs. 458, 

 460). 



The Caryophyllaceae are herbs, rarely shrubs, of varied appearance. 

 They have opposite, entire, frequently narrowxleaves and dichasial 

 inflorescences. The flowers in some genera are small and of a greenish 

 colour, but are usually provided with a white or brightly-coloured 

 corolla, and are frequently large and conspicuous. In many cases all 

 the floral whorls are pentamerous, but commonly the gynoecium is 

 two- to three-merous. The capsules split at the apex into valves or 

 teeth (Fig. 459) ; in a few cases the fruit is a nut or berry. 



Sub-Families and Representative Geneea. — (1) Alsinoideae: calyx poly- 



Fig. 4511. — Melandryum album. 1, Inflorescence ; 2, a male flower ; 3, a female flower ; 4, fruit ; 

 5, seed. (After Wossidlo.) 



sepalous ; petals with short claws ; fruit a capsule. Cerastium, Chickweed, 

 "flowers entirely pentamerous. Spergula, Spurrey, and Stellaria, Starwort or Stick- 

 wort, with trimerous ovaries and cleft petals. Arenaria, Sandwort, distinguished 

 from Stellaria by its entire petals. (2) Paronychioideae : calyx polysepalous ; 

 corolla wanting or reduced ; ovary with one ovule ; fruit a nut. Scleranthus, 

 Knawel ; Eerniaria. (3) Silenoideae : calyx gamosepalous ; petals with long claws ; 

 fruit a capsule. Lychnis, Campion, with pentamerous ovary ; Silene, with trimerous 

 ovary and six-toothed capsule. Dianthus, Pink, with trimerous ovary and four- 

 toothed capsule. The flowers of this group often have ligular appendages to the 

 petals at the throat of the corolla. 



Geographical Distribution. — The Caryophyllaceae are cosmopolitan in 

 their geographical range, but they prefer the temperate and colder zones, where 

 they are represented by numerous species growing in the most varied situations. 



