38 DICOTYLEDONOUS. 



Gehus hi. SIPHONYCHIA. (Herniaria.) 



Sepals 5, cohering below into a tube, petaloid above, concave 

 at the summit. Petals none, or subulate, filament like the petals 

 inserted into the tube of the calyx. Stamens 5. Style filiform, 

 about the length of the calyx. 



1. S. Americana. Stem branching, diffuse, procumbent, minutely and re- 

 torsely puberulent. Leaves, oblong-lanceolate, ciliate, slightly hairy beneath, 

 shorter near the summit. Flowers in glomerate cymes, at the extremities of 

 the branches, numerous. Sepals while above, minutely hispid with hooked 

 bristles at the base. 



^. July — August. Middle Georgia. 



Genus IV. STIPULICIDA. 



Sepals 5, united at the base, or separate. Petals 5, narrow, 

 oblong, cuneate. Stamens 3. Pistils 3 with short styles. 

 Capsule 3-valved, many seeded. 



1. S. Setacea. Stem erect, dichotomous, setaceous. Leaves near the 

 root opposite, spatulate, petiolate, of the stem small, setaceous. Stipules mul- 

 tifid. Flowers minute, in small terminal fascicles. 



White. <$. May. Middle Geo. Common. 6-10 inches. 



Genus V. POLYCARPON. 



Sepals 5, distinct, ovate, acuminate, keeled, unequal. Pe- 

 tals 5, linear, emarginate, shorter than the sepals, persistent. 

 Stamens 3, longer than the corolla. Pistils 3, styles united, 

 short. Capsule S-wdlved, 1-celled, many seeded. 



1. P. Tetrophyllum. Stem ascending, much branched, glabrous, striate, 

 knotted. Leaves opposite and by fours, obovate, obtuse, glabrous, entire, 

 narrowed at the base ; several membranous stipules at each joint. Flowers 

 in corymbose panicles, dichotomous with a flower in each division. Petals 

 much shorter than the sepals. 



White. ©. May— June. Charleston. Introduced. 3-6 inches. 



Genus VI. SPERGULA. 



Sepals 5, distinct. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 5-10, some- 

 times only 2, inserted with the petals. Pistils 3-5. Capsule 

 3-5 valved, many seeded. Seeds compressed, orbicular or ren- 

 iform. 



1. S. Arvensis. S^em erect, glabrous. Xeares verticillate, subulate-linear, 

 numerous at each joint. P/owers in dichotomous panicles, with a flower in 

 each division. Petals longer than the sepals. Pistils 5. Seeds margined. 



White. IS)' May — August. Common- 10-12 inches. 



2. S. Decumbens. Stem branching, decumbent. Leaves linear subulate, 

 glabrous, opposite, connected by a stipular membrane. Flowers, on solitary or ' 

 axillary peduncles. SepaZs persistent. Petals oblong, obtuse, persistent. 

 Stamens 10, as long as the calyx. Stigmas 5, nearly sessile. Seeds small. 



White. €). March— April. Common. 1-4 inches. 



