272 



DKCANDRIA TBIGYNIA 



R. Ovary supexiioh. 



217. SAPONARIA. L. Nutt. Gen. 408. 

 [Latin, Supo, soap; its mucilage affording a substitute fur that article.] 



Calyx tubular, cylindric, 5-toothed, naked at base. Petals 5, unguicu- 

 lato, crowned at throat with a petaloid appendage; claw as long us the 

 calyx. Capsule oblong, 1-ccllcd. Seeds numerous, small. 



Herbaceous: stem nodose; leaves opposite, subconnate, entire; flowers ter- 

 minal, fasciculate-panic led. Nat. Ord. 140. LindL Cauyophyllkas. 



1. 8. officinalis, Zr. Leaves lance-ovate, acute, or obtuse; flowers 

 fasciculate; calyx terete; appendages of the petals linear. Beck, 

 JBot.p. 49. 

 Officinal Saponaiua. Vulgd — Soap-wort. Bouncing Bet. 



Gallice — La Savonnierc. Genu. — Das Seifenkraut. I/isp. — Jabonera. 

 Kwt perennial, creeping. Stem 1*2 to IS inches high, terete, somewhat scabrous* 

 Leaves an inch and half to 3 inches long, and 3 fourths of an inch to an Inch and 

 half wide, mostly acute, sometimes obtuse, 3-ncrved, smooth, sessile, narrowed 

 almost to a petiole at base, subconnate. Panicle terminal, fasciculate ; pedicels 

 short, with opposite lanceolate bracts at base. Calyx about 3 fourths of an Inch 

 long, cylindric. Petals reddish white, or pale rose-color, with a small petalold 

 process at throat ; lamina flat, cuneate-obcordate; the number of petals often in- 

 creased by the abortion, or conversion, of stamens. Stamens as long as the claws 

 of the petals. Styles as long as the stamens. Capsule nearly as long as the calyx. 

 Seeds compressed, reniform-orbicular, punctate. 



Hab. About gardens, yards, and waste places : frequent. Fl. July, Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. An introduced plant,and often somewhat troublesome in gardens. When 

 bruised, and agitated In water, it raises a lather like soap; and has been used ai a 

 substitute for it. A decoction has been employed, sometimes, as a wash for the 

 itch, and other cutaneous diseases. There are no native species; and this is the 

 only one of the genus which has become naturalized in the U. States. 



Order IB. Trigynia* 



218. SILENE. L. Jsrittt.Gcrt.4lZ. 

 [Gr. Sialon, saliva; In allusion to the frothy viscid matter frequent on the stems ] 



Calyx tubular, inflated, or cylindric, 5-toothed, naked at base. Petals 

 5, unguiculate, mostly crowned at throat. Ovary superior. Capsule 

 3-cclled at base, opening at summit into 6 teeth. 



Herbaceous : stem nodose ; leaves vcrticillate, or opposite, entire; flowers pani- 

 culate. Nat. Ord. 140. Lindl. CABYOPHTLL&flb 



* Calyx injtated: Petals not crowned. 



1. S. stellata, Ait. Leaves vcrticillate in fours, oval-lanceolate, 

 long-acuminate ; calyx loose and bladder-like, pubescent ; lamina of the 

 petals fimbriate. Bt;ch y JRot. p. 47. 



Cucubalus stcllatus. li'illd. Sp. 2. p. 686. Mx. Jim. Up. 271. Pers. 

 Syn. l.p. 496. MuhL Catal. p. 45. Pursh y Jim. 1. p. 315. Nutt. 

 Gen. 1. p. 287. Bart. Phil. 1. />. 211. Ell . 8k. 1. p. 514. Bigel. 

 Bost.p. 184. Torr. Fl. 1. p. 449. Ejusd. Comp. p. 190. Florul. 

 Cftr.p. 53. Eat. Man. p. 114. 



