

ORDER XXI. CARYOPHYLLACE^E. 247 



glabrous, erect, slender. Leaves subulate, acute, slightly connate. 

 Flowers on filiform, axillary peduncles. Sepals oblong, persistent. 

 Petals obcordate, emarginate, twice the length of the sepals. — White. 

 ^jjj. May. In the low country, swamps. 10 — 12 inches. 



5. S. lanuginosa, (T. & G) {Arenaria diffusa of Ell.) Stem branch- 

 ing, diffuse, decumbent. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, alternate at 

 the base. Flowers on solitary, axillary, 1-fiowered peduncles. Sepals 

 ovate, acute, persistent. Petals oval, very small, or entirely wanting. 

 — White. 0. April — June. Damp soils. 2 — 3 feet long, supporting 

 itself on small plants. 



Genus V.— CERAS'TIUM. L. 10—5. (Chickweed.) 

 (From the Greek keras, a horn, the shape of the capsules.) 



Sepals 5, somewhat united at the base. Petals 5, 2-cleft, or 

 emarginate. Stamens 10, seldom a less number. Pistils 5. 

 Capsules 1-celled, 5-valved, dehiscing at the apex, producing 

 10, rarely 5 teeth, many-seeded. 



1. C. vulga'tum, (L.) (C. hirsutum of Ell.) Stem procumbent, 

 branching, fistulous, hirsute. Leaves ovate or obovate, obtuse, connate. 

 Flowers in dichotomous panicles with a flower in each division. Sepals 

 persistent, with membranaceous margin. Petals oblong, expanding, 

 double the length of the sepals. Stamens unequal. Styles short. 

 Stigmas glandular. — White. 0. April — Sept. Very common. 6 — 12 

 inches. 



2. C. visco'sum, (L.) Stem hirsute and viscid, diffuse. Leaves lance- 

 olate-oblong, obtuse. Flowers in a loose cyme. Petals obovate, scarce- 

 ly longer than the calyx. Capsule nearly twice as long as the calyx. 

 — White. 2£. May — Sept. Old pastures, common. 



3. C. arven'se, (L.) Stems declined at the base, retrorsely pubes- 

 cent. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, acute. Flowers few on an 

 elongated peduncle. Sepals obtuse, half the "length of the petals. Pe- 

 tals obcordate. — White. If. May — July. Rocky placea. 2 — 8 inches. 



Genus VI— SILE'NE. L. 10—3. 

 (From sialon, saliva, from the viscid substance on the stem.) 



Sepals 5, united into a tube. Petals 5, unguiculate, with 

 long claws, usually crowned at the summit of the claw ; limb 

 2-cleft. Stamens 10, inserted on the stype of the ovary. Pis- 

 tils 3. Capsule 3-celled, opening at the apex with six teeth. 



1. S. stella 'ta, (Ait.) Stem erect, branching, minutely pubescent. 

 Leaves v^rticillate by fours, broad-lanceolate, acute. Flowers in pani- 

 cled cynv»s. Petals fimbriate, not crowned. — White. If. Through 

 the sumrw^. So. Car. Dry woods. 2 — 3 feet. 



2. S. i x a'ta, (Pursh.) Stem simple, erect, pubescent, many from the 

 same re Leaves broad at the base, lanceolate-ovate, acuminate, 3- 

 nerved. Flowers in cymose panicles. Calyx ovate. Petals 4-cleft; 

 lobes c ititid. No crown. — White. %. Car and Geo. 2 — 4 feet. 



3. S juinquevul'nera, (L.) Stem divided from the base, hairy, hir- 



