2 12 



Fam. 2$. Caryophyllaceae. 

 (Plate 57.) 

 Herbs, rarely dwarf undershrubs, with entire, mosth 

 opposite leaves. Flowers bisexual, regular; perianth 

 double or the corolla sometimes o; calyx 4 — 5-eleit or 

 -parted, persistent; petals 4 5, entire or 2-tid, free. 

 Stamens mostly 10, in 2 rows, rarely 5 or 4. Ovary 

 free, 1 -celled or incompletely 2 5 -celled in the lower 

 part; styles 2-5, spreading or connate; ovules 2--Q0 , 

 rising from a basal central placenta. Fruit a many- 

 seeded capsule or a nut (Paronychieae). Embryo peri- 

 pheric, curving round the farinaceous perisperm. 



Ecology. . The flowers are mostly entomophilous. 

 Several species with showy flowers [Dianthus, Silene) 

 are visited by butterflies, or, if closed during the day, like 

 some species of Silene, by moths ; those with small 

 flowers like Stellaria, by flies. The seeds of several 

 species or genera are winged ; others are equally easily 

 dispersed by the wind, owing to their small size, hence 

 some introduced species have become common weeds in 

 gardens and fields, e.g. Stclla?~ia media (chickweed), Silefie 

 gallica {gunpowder weed). 



The pink and the carnation [Dia?it/ius Caryophyllus L. 

 from the Mediterranean) are cultivated in many varieties as 

 garden flowers. Spergula arvensis (spurry) is occasionally 

 cultivated in sandy soil as a fodder plant. Flor. Cap. 1, 120. 



The family as here defined includes Paronychieae of Harvky's Genera, 

 described under Illecebraceae in Flor. Cap. Vol. v, I, 398. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 

 1. Subfam. Alsinoideae. 



Sepals 4 — 5, free; petals and stamens hypogynous; petals not clawed. 



Series A. bruit a capsule, opening with teeth. 

 Tribe 1. Alsineae. Stipules o. Petals 2-fid, styles free. 

 A. Styles 3. Capsule globose. (Plate 57.) 



1 European species {St. media). 



Flor. Cap. 1, 130. 1. Stellaria L. 



