SILENE LACINIA'TA. 
JAGGED-PETALLED CATCHFLY. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
CARYOPHYLLEJE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
1 § feet. 
July, Aug 1 . | 
Perennial. 
in 1823. 
No. 499. 
The genus Silene acquired its name from the 
saliva-like fluid that is found on some of its species. 
The Silene laciniata is an ornamental plant, but 
not very hardy. Its habit is best adapted, during 
summer, to a warm border, and to dry frame pro- 
tection during winter. In the greenhouse it is lia- 
ble to be drawn and become weakly. As it pro- 
duces seeds but sparingly, cuttings should be struck 
every summer, and planted in fresh sandy loam, 
mixed with a small portion of decayed leaves. 
Many species of Silene possess much beauty : in- 
deed, the whole may be considered very interesting, 
notwithstanding some of them have rather diminu- 
tive flowers. It is a most extensive genus, compre- 
hending, according to Don’s System, not less than 
two hundred and fifty-six species. Its near rela- 
tion, Dianthus, has also an hundred and twenty- 
five species, and Arenaria has an hundred and forty- 
seven; hence, it appears that from three genera, 
alone, of the natural order Caryophyllese, a collec- 
tion of more than five hundred plants can be formed. 
It may not be unimportant, occasionally, to view 
the extent of the means, and fertility of the sources. 
