126 
like number of styles. Capmle 1- celled, with as many valves as stigmas. Seeds indefinite, 
rarely definite and solitary, reniform or angular, attached to a free central placenta, or to 
funiculi arising from the base of the cavity. Embryo curved round mealy, or somewhat 
fleshy, albumen ; radicle next the hilum ; cotyledons leafy in germination. — Herbaceous 
plants, occasionally rather shrubby with tumid joints to the stem. Leaves opposite, undi- 
vided, often connate at the base. Stipules 0. 
Affinities. Principally known from Silenacese by the 5-leaved calyx, 
and sessile petals ; known from lUecebracese by nothing but the want of sti- 
pules ; all the stipulate plants formerly placed here must consequently be trans- 
ferred to lUecebracese. 
Geography. Found in the cool and temperate parts of the world, espe • 
ciaUy in mountainous tracts. 
Properties. None. 
GENERA. 
Hymenella, DC. 
Triplateia, Bartl. 
Buffonia, L. 
Sagina, L. 
Colobanthus, Bartl. 
Cherleria, Haller. 
Siebera, Rchb. 
Somerauera, Hopp. 
Alsine, Wahl. 
b. Minuartia, Loefl. 
c. Queria, id. 
Alsinella, Benth. 
Dolophragma, Fenzl. 
Honkenya, Ehr. 
Halianthus, Fries. 
Adenarium, Raf. 
Merckia, Fisch. 
Arenaria, L. 
Sabularia, Rchb. 
Mbhringia, L. 
Heterochroa, Bunge. 
GoufFeia, Rob. et Cast. 
Eremogone, Fenzl. 
Strephodon, Ser. 
Cerastium, L, 
Esmarckia, Rchb. • 
b. Moenchia, Ehr. 
Holosteum, L. 
Odontostemma, Bent. 
Brachystemma, Don. 
Stellaria, L. 
b. Leucostemma, 
Benth. 
c. Schizotechium, 
Fenzl. 
Larbrea, A. St. H. 
Malachium, Fries. 
Spergella, Rchb. 
Spergulastrum, Mx. 
Micropetalon, Pers. 
Schiedea, Cham. 
Dichoglottis, F. et M. 
Adenonema, Bge. 
Order XCVI. TAMARICACEi^l. The Tamarisk Tribe. 
Tamariscine^, Desvaux, in a Dissertation read before the French Institute {in 1815), 
according to the Ann. Sc. Nat. 4. 344. (1825) ; A. St. HU. Mem. Mus. 2. 205. 
(1816) ; Ehrenb. inAnnales des Sciences, 12. 68. (1827) ; DC. Prodr. 3. 95. (1828) ; 
Lindl. Synops. 61. (1829). 
Essential Character. — Calyx 4- or 5-parted, persistent, with an imbricated aestiva- 
tion. Petals inserted into the base of the calyx, withering, with an imbricated aestivation. 
Stamens hypogynous, either equal to the petals in number, or twice as many, distinct or 
monadelphous. Omry superior ; style very short ; stigmas 3. Capsule 3 -vqN&A, 1-celled, 
many-seeded ; placenta 3, either at the base of the cavity, or along the middle of the valves. 
Seeds erect or ascending, comose ; albumen none ; embryo straight, with an inferior radicle. 
— Shrubs or herbs, with rod-like branches. Leaves alternate, resembling scales, entire. 
Flowers in close spikes or racemes. 
Affinities. According to De CandoUe {Prodr. 3. 95.), who places the 
order among those with perigynous stamens, it is related to Portulacaceae (or 
lUecebraceae), on account of the resemblance between its flowers and those of 
Telephium ; but it differs in the parietal exalbuminous comose seeds. Also 
aUied to Lythracese and Onagraceae, but different from the former in the im- 
bricated aestivation, the petals arising from the bottom of the calyx, and pa- 
rietal seeds ; and from the latter in the superior ovary, and the imbricated 
aestivation of the calyx. Ehrenberg asserts the order to have hypogynous 
stamens {Ann. des Sc. 12. 77.), and this agrees with my own observations. The 
same botanist, in separating the Tamarix songarica of WUldenow from Tama- 
ricaceae, and referring it to the vicinity of Reaumuria, establishes the affinity 
of Tamaricaceae to Reaumuriaceae. In many respects it is very like Frankenia- 
ceae. In the midst of all these conflicting affinities and analogies, it seems 
