444 



CAETOPHYLLACE^. 



Order 24. — Caeyophyilace^, the Chiekweed Family. {Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Sepals 4-5 (fig. 678), free (fig. 293, p. 136), or united in a 

 tube (figs. 297 c, p. 197; 653 c, p. 371), persistent. Petals 4-5 (fig. 

 678), hypogynous, unguiculate (fig. 305, p. 201), often bifid or bipar- 

 tite (fig. 307, p. 201), occasionally 0. Stamens (fig, 679 e) usually 

 double the number of the petals, or, if equal, usually alternate with 

 them ; filaments subulate, sometimes united ; anthers innate, bilocular, 

 dehiscence longitudinal. Ovary single, often stalked or supported on 

 a gynophore (fig. 653 5', p. 371), composed of 2 to 5 carpels, which are 

 usually united by their edges, but sometimes the edges are turned in- 



Fig. 678. 



Fig. 681, 



Fig. 679. 



wards, so as to form partial dissepiments ; stigmas 2-5 (figs. 425, 426 

 s, p. 242), with papillse on their inner surface (fig. 679 s). Capsule 

 unilocular (figs. 425, p. 242 ; 681, 2), or imperfectly bi-quinquelocular 



Pig. 678-682. Illustrations of the natural order CaryophyllaceEe. Fig. 678. Diagram 

 of the flower of Alsine media, common Chickweed, belonging to the natural order Caryo- 

 phyllaceae, trihe Alsinese. The flower consists of five imbricate sepals, five alternate 

 petals, five stamens, a unilocular ovary, with a free central placenta, and numerous ovules. 

 Fig. 679. Section of the flower of Dianthus CaryophyUus, Carnation, c. Calyx ; p, petals, 

 cohering with the stamens at the base ; e, stamens ; g, gynophore or thecaphore, i.e. the 

 staUc supporting the ovary ; o, ovary with central placenta and ovules ; s, two stigmas, 

 which are papillose all along their inner surface. Fig. 680. Horizontal section of the 

 ovary in a very young state, showing the partitions c c, which divide the ovary into two 

 cavities. These divisions ultimately disappear, lea^'ing the placenta, j), bearing the ovules 

 free in the centre. Fig. 681. Capsule of Lychnis Githago at the period of dehisceiice, 

 when the pericarp separates into five valves at the simimit. 1, The capsule entire. 2, 

 Capsule cut vertically, to show the seeds, g, grouped in a mass, on a free central placenta, 

 p. Fig. 682. Seeds. 1, Entire seed. 2, Seed cut vertically, t, Spermoderm. e, Peri- 

 pherical embryo, surrounding the mealy perisperm, p. 



