PINK FAMILY 73 



alluding, as does the English name, to the viscidity of some 

 species. This property protects the honey in the flowers from 

 "unbidden guests," insects that crawl up the stem and would 

 not cross-pollinate the flowers ; but these plants are apparently 

 not insectivorous, the captured insects not being digested or 

 absorbed.) 



i. *S. latifdlia (Bladder Campion, White Bottle). — Generally 

 glabrous and glaucous ; but a downy variety (var. puberuld) is 

 occasionally found. Stem erect, from i to 2 feet high; leaves oblong, 

 acute ; flowers many, drooping, panicled, scented at night ; 

 calyx inflated, bladder-like, with a network of veins, often tinged 



silene am<ena (Sea Campion). 



with purple ; petals white, deeply cloven, seldom with any ligule. 

 A common weed. — Fl. June — August. Perennial. 



2. S. amdena (Sea Campion). — Stems numerous from the same 

 root, prostrate, spreading ; leaves oblong, acute ; flowers few or 

 solitary, larger than those of the last ; petals slightly cleft into two 

 broad segments, each with a ligule at the base of the blade. — 

 Common on the sea-shore, less so by mountain streams. — Fl. all 

 the summer. Perennial. 



3.* 5. Armeria, with a viscid stem, smooth leaves, a many- 

 flowered corymbose cyme, and notched white petals with ligules, 

 occurs as a casual, but is not indigenous. — Fl. July. Annual. 



4. S. cbnica (Striated Corn Catchfly). — Stem erect, forked, 

 hairy, 6 — 12 in. high; leaves narrow, downy ; flowers small 



