ISO POPULAR FLORA. 



herbs: some are insignificant weeds ; others have handsome flowers, and are cultivated for 

 ornament. They form two main sub-families, one containing the Pinlcs, the other the Chick- 

 weeds. For lack of room, only the principal genera can be given here, without the species, 

 which are numerous. 



I. PINK Subfamily. Sepals united into a tube or cup. Petals with long claws, which are en- 

 closed in the tube of the calyx. The petals and the 10 stamens are generally raised more or less on a 

 stalk within the calyx. I'od many-seeded, opening at the top. Flowers mostly ratlier large and showy. 

 Calyx furnished with two or more scaly bractlets at the base. Styles 2, {Dldnthm) * Pink. 

 Calyx naked, i. e. without any bractlets at the base. 



Styles 2. Calyx cylindrical and even, (Saponaria) SoAPwoiilfr 



Styles 2. Calyx oblong and strongly 5-angled, ( Vaccaria) Cowhekb, 



Styles 3. Calj-x 5-toothed, (Silene) Catch fly. 

 Styles 5. 



Calyx with short teeth, which are not leaf-like, {Lychnis) * Lychsis. 



Calyx with leafy lobes, which are longer than the petals, (Agrostemma) Cockle. 



II. CHICK^VEED Subfamily. Sepals separate or nearly so. Petals without claws, spreading, 

 sometimes wanting. Small or low herbs; many are weeds. Flowers small, mostly white, except in 

 Sand-Spurrey. 



Pod 3-celled, many-seeded. Petals none. Prostrate annual weed, {Mulluyu) Cakpetweed. 



Pod one-celled, with several or many seeds. Styles 3 to 6. 

 Stipules or little scales between the leaves none. 

 Petals 2-cleft or parted, or notched at the end. 



Styles and petals 5. Pod opening by 10 teeth. (Cerastium) Mouse-ear Ciiickweed. 

 Stjdes 3 or 4. Pod splitting into valves, (Stdlaria) Chick weed. 



Petals entire, not notched nor cleft. 



Styles 3, fewer than the petals, (Ai'eniiria) Sandwort. 



Styles 5 or 4, as many as the petals, (Sagina) Pearlwokt. 



Stipules in the form of scales between the bases of the leaves. 



Styles 3. Leaves not whorled. Petals purple, (SperguKtrin) Sand-Si'URREy. 



Styles 5. Leaves in whorls, narrow. Petals white, {Spergula) SrURiiEY. 



16. PURSLANE FAMILY. Order POUTULACACEtE. 



]\Iore or less fleshy herbs, with entire leaves, and flowers which open only in sunshine. 

 Sepals fewer tljan the petals (i. e. sepals 2, petals 5), with a stamen before each one, or 

 else with many stamens. Pod one-eelled, with the seeds, like those of the Pink family, on 

 stalks rising from the base of tlie cell. Harmless and tasteless herbs; the Spring-Beauty 

 has handsome flowers in the spring in woods. The common Purslane is a well-known gar- 

 den weed and pot-herb, and the Great>flowercd Purslane, with its cylindrical fleshy leaves 

 and large red or scarlet flowers, is a common ornamental annual in cultivation. 

 Calyx 2-cleft, the tube united with the lower part of the ovary. Petals opening onlv 

 once. Stamens 7 to 20. Pod many-seeded, opening round the middle, the top 

 falling off as a lid. Annuals. [Portulaca) Purslane. 



