178 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



SILENE, L. Catchfly. 



Sepals united into a 5-tootlied tube. Petals 5, long- 

 clawed, inserted with the 10 stamens on the stipe of the 

 ovary, commonly crowned with two scales at the base of 

 the limb. Styles 3. Capsule 1-celled, or 3-celled at the 

 base, opening by 6 teeth, many-seeded. Leaves mostly 

 connate. Flowers cymose, often showy. 



* Ptrennials ; fiowers showy. 



t Petals gash-fiinbriat'j, crownless. 



S. STELLATA, Ait. Lectves in whorls of four, lance- 

 ovate, acuminate, the uppermost opposite ; floivers white, 

 in a large spreading panicle ; ccdi/x inflated, bell-shaped. 

 Stems 2°-3° high, downy, branching above. June. Au- 

 gust. * 



** Annuals : floivers small, expanding at night. 



S. Antirrhina, L. 8tem slender, smoothish, clammy 

 below the upper joints; leaves linear, acute, sessile, the 

 lowest lanceolate, narrowed into a petiole ; flowers panicled ; 

 calyx smooth ; petals obcordate, rose-colored. Stem 6-2° 

 high, simple or branched. Flowers minute. May, June. 



SAPONAEIA, L. Soapwort. 



Calyx tubular, terete, 5-toothed. Petals long-clawed. 

 Stamens 10. Styles 2. Capsule sessile or short-stiped, 

 l-celled, or 2-celled at the base, 4-toothed at the apex. 

 Cymes dense-flowered. 



AGROSTEMMA, L. Corn-Cockle. 



Calyx tubular, with 5 elongated linear deciduous lobes. 

 Petals 5, entire, crownless. Stamens 10. Styles 5. Cap- 

 sule 1-celled, 5-toothed. Annual or biennial herbs, with 

 linear leaves and showy purple flowers on elongated pe- 

 duncles. 



