CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 53 



or fewer by abortion. Styles 3, opposite the outer sepals. 

 Capsule 3-valved, 1-celled, many-seeded, dividing from 

 above. — Flowers terminal, solitary or cymose, perfect, white. 



1. A. stricta, Michx. Upright Sandwort. 



Erect, or spreading from a small root, smooth; haves subulate-linear, with many 

 others clustered in the axils; cyme diffuse, naked, many-flowered ; sepals ovate, 

 very acute, 3-ribbed, % as long as the petals; capsule ovate. 



Rocks and dry banks. May, June. Stems 8 to 10 inches high. Leaves % to % 

 inches long, very narrow and acute. Floivers white. Per. 



2. A. SERPYLLIFOLIA, L. Thyme-leaved Sandwort. 



Roughish, diffusely branched; leaves ovate, acute, sessile, 6ubcilliate; sepals 

 hairy, lanceolate, pointed, 3 to 5-nerved, longer than the oval petals; capmle ovate. 

 6-toothed equalling the calyx. 



Sandy fields. May — Aug. Annual. Stems numerous, downy, with reflcxed 

 hairs, 3 to 8 inches high. Flowers white, on terminal and axillary peduncles. 

 Introduced. 



3. A. LATERIFLORA, L. Side-flowering Sandwort. 



Erect, sparingly branched, minutely pubescent; haves oval or oblong, obtu»; 

 petals twice as long as the sepals. 



Shady gravelly banks and woods; not common. June. Per. A slender upright 

 species. Stem 5 to 10 inches high. Leaves % to 1 inch long, }^ as wide, ou very 

 short peteoles. Peduncles terminal and lateral, 2 (rarely 3 to 4) flowered, one of 

 the pedicels with 2 bractioles, near the middle. Flowers white, % inch bread. 

 Gtpruk ovoid, obtuse; valves 2-cleft. Mahringia of Beck and Torrey. 



8. SAGINA. Linn. Pearlwort. 



Lat. sagina, food or nourishment, which fattens. 



Sepals 4 to b, united at base. Petals 4 to 5, undivided 

 often indistinct or none. Stamens 4 to 10. Styles 4 to 

 5, alternate with the sepals. Capsule 4 to 5-valved, 1-celled, 

 many-seeded. — Small matted herbs, with thread-like or aul- 

 xhaped leaves and minute solitary flowers. 



1. S. PROCUMBENS, L. Procumbent Pearlwort. 



Stem procumbent, smooth, branched; .'eaves linear-mucronate; petals much 

 •horter than the calyx. 



Borders of springs and etreams. May — July. Perennial. Stems 2 to 4 inches 

 high, diffuse and rooting at the lower joints. Leaves thread-form narrowly linear ; 

 lower ones connate. Peduncles solitary, longer than the leaves. Flmvcrs Email. 

 white and greenish. Stamens 4 to 5. Petals shorter than the calyx. 



2. S. apetala, L. Annual Pearlwort. 



Semi erect, or procumbent only at base, slightly pubescent; haves subulate: 

 ftowers alternate. 



Sandy fields. May, June. Annual. Stems numerous, filiform, 2 to 4 inches 

 high. Leaves almost bristle-form. Pedicels elongated, ascending. Sepals and 

 sUunans 4. Petals 4, very minute or none. 



9. MOLLUGO. Linn. Indian Ohickweed. 

 Sbpala 5, united at base. Petals none. Stamens 3 to 



P* 



