NATURAL OEDEES. 
253 
regular. Sepals 4 or 5, persistent, the two exterior often 
smaller. Petals 4 or 5, often with black dots, twisted in aesti- 
vation. Stamens generally polyadel]3hous. Carpels 2-5, united 
round a central or basal placenta ; styles the same number as 
the carpels ; stigmas capitate or simple. Fruit flesh j or cap- 
sular. Seeds usually indefinite, minute; embryo straight; al- 
lumen little or none. 
a. Properties : the plants yield a resinous acid juice, and a bitter balsamic ex- 
tractive matter. 
Geneea. — Hypericum, Ascyrum, Elodea, Parnassia. 
418. Caeyophyllace^, the Pinh Tribe. — Herbs^ with opposite, 
entire leoA^es. Flowers regular, often terminal, sometimes ax- 
illary. Sepals 4 or 5, distinct, or cohering in a tube. Petals 
4 or 5, or sometimes wanting. Stamens as many as the petals 
and opposite them, or twice as many. Ovary composed of from 
2 to 5 carpels ; stigmas 2-5, sessile, filiform. Fruit a capsule 
opening at the apex. Seeds usually indefinite ; embryo periph- 
eric, curved or coiled round the outside of a mealy albumen 
a. Properties : the plants of this order 
are usually insipid ; some are said to be 
poisonous. 
Genera. — Dianthus, Saponaria, Sagina, 
Arenaria, Stellaria, Cerastium, Silene, 
Agrostemma, Lychnis, Cucubalus, Mullu- 
go, Frankenia, Polycarpon, Stipulicida, 
Spergula, Anychia, Scleranthus, ' 
Fig. 178, a, section of the flower of 
Dianthus caryophyllus ; s, stigmas which / 
are papillose along their inner surface ; fl 
€, stamens; p, petals cohering with the ca^ 
stamens at their base ; o, the ovary with 
central placenta and ovules ; c a, capsules 
of Lychnis githago cut vertically ; /, the 
seed cut vertically, showing the peripheri- 
cal embryo surrounding the mealy albu- 
men. 
419. PoETULACACE^, the Purslaue Tribe. — Succulent or fleshy 
herbs or shrubs. Learns alternate or opposite, entire, with- 
out stipules, often having hairs in their axils. Sepals 2, cohering 
at the base. Petals 5, distinct, or cohering in a short tube. 
Stamens variable in number, sometimes as many as the petals, 
and opposite them. Ovary 1-celled, formed by 3 united car- 
pels. Fruit capsular. Seed^s few or numerous, attached to a 
central placenta ; albumen farinaceous; ^mJry^) peripherical. 
a. Properties : insipid, or slightly bitter. 
Geneea. — Portulaca, Talinum, Calandrinia, Claytonia, Montia, Lewisia. 
420. MESEMBEYANTHEMACEiE, the Ice-plant Tribe. — Herbace 
ous or shrubby succulent plants. Lea/ves simple, opposite or 
alternate. Sepals usually 5, but varying from 4-8, more or less 
