298 
CAR YOPHYLLA GEAR 
Frequently, reduction of the number of parts occurs, e.g. we may 
have G (3) or (2) or rarely (4); A 4 + 4, or 5, 3, 2, or 1, and in other 
cases the corolla may abort (Sagina sp., Herniaria, &c.). The 
ovary, sta., and corolla are sometimes borne on an androphore (e.g. 
Lychnis), an elongation of the axis between calyx and corolla. The 
petals are sometimes provided with a lignle (e.g. Lychnis), and are 
often bifid. At the base of the ovary are often seen traces of the 
septa, which in the upper part do not develope ; in some cases the 
placenta is basal. 
Biologically, as well as morphologically, the order separates into 
two distinct groups, a higher type, the Silenoideae , and a lower, the 
Alsinoideae. All secrete honey at the base of the sta., but while 
in the A. the flr. is wide open, so that short-tongued insects can 
reach the honey, in the S. a tube is formed by the gamosepalous 
calyx; in this stand the claws of the petals and the sta., partly filling 
it up, and rendering the honey inaccessible to any but long-tongued 
insects, especially bees and Lepidoptera. The latter class, especially 
in the Alps (see Muller’s Alpenblumen ), are the chief visitors, and 
many of the S. are adapted to them — by length of tube, red and white 
colours, night-flowering in many sp., or emission of scent only at night, 
&c. The firs, are commonly protandrous. Many A. are gynodioecious 
(cf. Labiatae). 
The fruit is usually a capsule, containing several or very many 
seeds. It opens in nearly all cases by splitting from the apex into a 
certain number of teeth which bend outwards, leaving an opening at 
the top. The splitting may take place in as many, or in twice as 
many lines as there are cpls. The seeds cannot escape from the 
capsule unless it be shaken, e.g. by wind or animals, and as they are 
small and light they thus have a good chance of distribution. The 
embryo is usually curved round the perisperm (in a few cases it 
is nearly straight). 
Classification and chief genera (after Pax) : 
I. SILENOIDEAE (flr. gamosepalous, hypogynous): 
1. Lychnideae (calyx with commissural ribs) : Silene, Lychnis. 
2. Diantheae (no commissural ribs) : Gypsophila, Dianthus. 
II. ALSINOIDEAE (flr. polysepalous ; sta. often perigynous). 
a. Fruit a capsule opening by teeth. 
1. Alsineae (styles free to base; leaf exstip.): Stellaria, 
Cerastium, Sagina, Arenaria. 
2. Sperguleae ( do., but leaf stip.) : Spergula, Spergularia. 
3. Polycarpeae (styles joined at base) : Drymaria, Polycarpon. 
b. Fruit an achene or nut. 
4. Paronychieae (flrs. all alike; stipules): Corrigiola, Paro- 
nychia, Illecebrum, Herniaria. 
5. Dysphanieae (do. but leaves exstip. alt.) : Dysphania. 
6. Sclerantheae ( do.; leaves exstip. opp.) : Scleranthus. 
