130 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 Pinks, 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 SuDFAMiLY. 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. Pud many-seeded, opening at the top. Flowers mostly rather large and showy. 

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

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



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



Styles 2. Calyx oblong and strongly 6-angled, (Vaccaria) Cowheru. 



Styles 3. Calyx 5-toothed, {SWene) Catchfly. 

 Styles 5. 



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



Calyx with leafy lobes, which are longer than the petals, {Afjrusiemma) Cockle. 



II. CHICKWEED SuDFAMiLY. Sepals separate or nearly so. Petals without claws, spreading, 

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

 Sand-Spurrey. 



Pod 3-celled, many-seeded. Petals none. Prostrate annual weed, (MolVuijo) Caupetweed. 



Pod one-celled, with several or many seeds. Styles 8 to 6. 

 Stipules or little scales between the leaves none. 

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



Styles and petals 6. Pod opening by 10 teeth. ( Cerastimn) Mouse-ear Chickweed. 

 Styles 3 or 4. Pod splitting into valves, (Sitllaria) Chickweed. 



Petals entire, not notched nor cleft. 



Styles 3, fewer than the petals, {Areniu-ia) Sandwort. 



Styles 5 or 4, as many as the petals, {Sagina) PEAitLAVuirr. 



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



Styles 3. Leaves not whorled. Petals purple, (Spergularia) Sand-Spukkey. 



Styles 5. Leaves in whorls, narrow. Petals white, (Sjperr/ula) SruiuiEY. 



16. PURSLANE FAMILY. Order POllTULACACE.'E. 

 More or less fleshy herbs, with entire leaves, and flowers which open onl}- in sunshine. 

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

 else with many stamens. Pod one-celled, with the seeds, like those of the Pink faniil\', on 

 stalks rising from the base of the 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-flowered Purslane, with its 03'lindrical 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 only 

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

 falling off as a lid. Annuals. {Portulaca) Pueslase. 



