Sifene.] XII. CARYOPHYLLACE^]. 63 



3 or 5 together on short opposite peduncles. Calyx tubular, 4 or 5 lines 

 long. Petals white or greenish underneath, deeply 2-cleft, with long 

 claws, the style and stamens projecting beyond the flower. 



On hilly or stony pastures, and in rocky districts, over nearly the 

 whole of Europe and Russian Asia to the Arctic Circle. Distributed 

 over several parts of England and southern Scotland, but in some places 

 introduced only, and not recorded from Ireland. FL summer, 



5. S. gallica, Linn. (fig. 138). Small-flowered S. — A hairy, slightly 

 viscid, much branched annual, 6 inches to near a foot high, erect or de- 

 cumbent at the base. Lower leaves small and obovate, upper ones narrow 

 and pointed. Flowers small, nearly sessile, generally all turned to one 

 side, forming a simple or forked terminal spike, with a linear bract at the 

 base of each flower. Calyx very hairy, with 10 longitudinal ribs and 5 

 slender teeth, at first tubular, afterwards ovoid, and much contracted at 

 the top. Petals very small, entire or notched, pale red or white. 



Probably of south European origin, but now a common weed in sandy 

 or gravelly fields and waste places, especially near the sea, in most parts of 

 the cultivated world ; pretty frequent in southern England, and appearing 

 occasionally in other parts of Britain. FL summer. [There are three very 

 distinct varieties of this : — S. gallica proper, with white or pink large 2-fid 

 petals ; S. quinquevulnera, Linn. , with white entire petals, each with a red 

 spot (formerly cultivated) ; and S. anglica, Linn., with spreading branches 

 and small white, often jagged petals.] 



6. S. conica, Linn. (fig. 139). Striated S. — An erect, simple, or 

 slightly branched annual, about 6 inches high, slightly hoary with 

 minute, soft, and glandular hairs. Radical leaves obovate, spreading, 

 those of the stem narrow and erect. Flowers few, in a small, compact, 

 terminal panicle. Calyx conical, about 6 lines long, marked with 25 to 

 30 longitudinal veins, the mouth always contracted, with 5 slender teeth. 

 Petals small, pale pink notched or 2-cleft. 



In sandy fields and waste places, especially near the sea, common in 

 central and southern Europe and central Asia, but not reaching into 

 northern Germany. In Britain, confined to the eastern counties of 

 England, or appearing occasionally on ballast -hills further north. Ft. 

 summer. 



7. S. noctiflLora, Linn. (fig. 140). N ight- flowering S. — A coarse, erect, 

 hairy, and viscid annual, 1 to 2 feet high, simple or branched. Lower 

 leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, and shortly stalked, the upper ones 

 narrow-lanceolate and sessile. Flowers 2 or 3, or sometimes several 

 together, in a loose, terminal, dichotomous panicle. Calyx above an 

 inch long, tubular, with 10 ribs and 5 slender teeth, swelling, as the 

 fruit ripens, rather below the middle. Petals rather large, 2-cleft, pale 

 pink or nearly white, opening at night. 



Probably of south European origin, now a common cornfield weed in 

 central Europe, and found occasionally as such in various parts chiefly 

 of eastern England, Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. with the corn. 



IV. LYCHNIS. LYCHNIS. 



Calyx tubular or inflated, with 5 teeth. Petals 5, with erect claws, 

 and a spreading lamina, entire or 2-cleft, usually with a small double or 

 notched scale at its base. Stamens 10. Styles 5, or very rarely 4. 



