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62 THE PINK FAMILY. — [Silene. 
1. S. acaulis, Linn. (fig. 133). Dwarf Silene, Moss Campion.—This 
beautiful little mountain plant forms dense moss-like tufts, often many 
inches’ diameter, consisting of a much branched perennial stock, the very 
short branches covered with theremains of old leaves, and crowned by dense 
spreading clusters of short, green, linear, and glabrous leaves. From the 
centre of these arise the numerous flowers, either sessile or on 1-flowered 
peduncles, which seldom attain an inch in length. Calyx broadly tubular 
or campauulate, quite glabrous, with rather obtuse teeth. Petals reddish- 
purple, obovate, slightly notched, with a small scale at the base of the 
lamina. . 
In the mountains of northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, 
and, at considerable elevations, on the great mountain-ranges of central and 
southern Europe. Abundant in the mountains of Scotland, extending more 
sparingly into the Lake district of England and into North Wales; in 
Ireland found only in Donegal. 7. summer. 
2, S.Cucubalus, Wibel. (fig. 134). Bladder Silene, or Campion. 
—A perennial, loosely branched at the base, with ascending or seldom erect 
stems, from 6 inches to above a foot. long, of a glaucous green, and usually 
glabrous. Leaves ovate, oblong, or rarely nearly linear, and usually pointed. 
Flowers few, white, erect or slightly drooping, in loose terminal panicles. 
Calyx rather more than half an inch long, becomes at length almost globu- 
lar, inflated, and much veined. Petals more or less deeply 2-cleft, with a 
small scale at the base of the lamina, which sometimes disappears altogether. 
S. inflata, Sm. 
In fields, on banks, roadsides, and waste places, throughout Europe and 
Russian and central Asia, extending into the Arctic regions and to high 
alpine summits. Generally spread over Britain, but not very common. 7. 
all summer. A seacoast variety, more frequent in England and Ireland, 
with short diffuse stems, thicker, more obtuse leaves, almost solitary flowers, 
and larger scales on the petals, has been distinguished as a species, under 
the name of S. maritima. 
3, S. Otites, Sm. (fig. 135). Spanish Silene.—Perennial stock short 
and tufted, with narrow leaves, as in S. nutans; the stems simple, erect 
and stiff, with few leaves, about a foot high. Flowers dicecious, small and 
numerous, of a pale yellowish-green, arranged in loose opposite clusters, 
having the appearance of whorls, and forming a long, narrow panicle. 
Calyx scarcely 13 line long. Petals narrow and entire. Style and stamens 
projecting beyond the flower. 
In sandy fields and pastures, in central, southern, and especially eastern 
Europe, and all across Russian Asia, not so common in western Europe, 
although extending to the sandy shores of the Atlantic. In Britain only in 
Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. #7. summer. 
4, S.nutans, Linn. (136). Nodding Silene, Nottingham Catchfly.— 
Stock tufted and perennial, with a rather thick taproot, short, procumbent 
barren shoots, and erect flowering stems, 1 to 2 feet high, more or less 
hoary with short hairs, usually viscid in the upper part. Lower leaves 
oblong-obovate, pointed, narrowed into a long stalk, the stem-leaves few, 
narrow, and sessile. Flowers nodding in a loose, rather narrow panicle, 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. — ; 
