CARYOPHYLLACE. 433 
The CaryvorHyLLACcE® as a group possess, with the exception of 
the Pinks and Carnations, little general interest. The beauty of 
form, rich colouring, and aromatic fragrance of the flowers, render 
these individuals of the family very general favourites. The order 
has been divided into— 
Alsinee, which are chiefly weeds, the best known being the 
common Chickweed (Stedlaria 
media), of which birds are so 
fond, and 
Silenee, which contains the 
Pinks, Carnations, and many 
popular plants. 
The Pinks are herbaceous 
plants, rarely shrubs, with stem 
ranching into forks, with 
tumid joints; leaves simple, 
opposite, entire; flowers gene- 
tally hermaphrodite (Fig. 414) ; 
calyx five, sometimes four seg- 
ments, either distinct, so as to 
form a tube, toothed at the 
summit, supplied at its base 
with two or several bracts. 
The corolla is composed of five 
free hypogynous petals, with 
lengthened linear aiglets, with 
crenulated dentate leaves. The 
stamens are double the number 
of the petals, their anthers bi- 
tr, dorsally attached, and Fig. 414,—Carnation (Dianthus caryo- 
pening from within by two aes 
longitudinal clefts. The pistil is composed of an unilocular ovary, 
_ enelosing a great number of curved ovules, and surmounted by 
two very slight styles. The fruit is capsular, opening at the 
Summit by the same number of valves as there are styles. A 
Straight embryo is attached to the seed at the surface of a farina- 
_ “eous perisperm. Seed sometimes flat and membraneous, some- 
times round. 
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