POLYCARPON 
14 
We have little or no doubt that the Dianthaceae is a recently evolved family of plants. The species are very 
numerous, and very closely allied to one another. The genera and even the tribes are connected in the same way ; 
and the framing of natural subdivisions of the family is in consequence the despair of systematic botanists. The difficulties 
are inherent, and are seen in all successful, recently-evolved groups of plants. 
The flowers of such genera as Dianthus, Silene, and Cucubalus are highly specialised, as shown by the presence of a 
gynophore, the occasional dioecism, the marked differentiation of the claw and limb of the petals, the frequent presence of 
coronal ligules, the occasional zygomorphy, the usual oligomery of the gynoecium, and the straight ovary of the Diantheae. 
Hence we think there is no justification for an arrangement which begins the family with these genera (cf. Volume II, 
page 150). 
About 55 genera and 1300 species; cosmopolitan. 
Tribes of Dianthaceae 
Tribe I. Polycarpeae (see below). Stipules present, scarious. Leaves opposite or in fours. 
Laminae small, relatively broad. Sepals free or more or less united. Petals n, entire emarginate 
or 2-dentate, very small. Stamens often n and antisepalous, or n— 1 or n— 2. Style united below. 
Stigmas n — 2. Capsule dehiscing septicidally by as many valves as there are stigmas. (72 = 5.) 
Tribe II. Sperguleae (p. 15). Stiptcles as in Polycarpeae. Laminae linear. Sepals n, 
polysepalous. Petals n , entire. Stamens usually n-\-n or n, rarely fewer. Styles free. Stigmas n to 
2, usually n or 3. Capsule dehiscing septicidally by as many teeth as there are stigmas. (72 = 5.) 
Tribe III. Sagineae (p. 23). Stipules absent. Laminae usually linear. Sepals n, poly- 
sepalous. Petals n, entire. Stamens n + n, outer whorl antisepalous, or n and antisepalous. Style 
absent or free. Stigmas either n and antipetalous or n — 2. Capsule dehiscing septicidally by as 
many values as there are stigmas, (n = 5 or 4.) 
Tribe IV. Stellarieae (p. 37). Differs from Sagineae chiefly in possessing capsules which 
dehisce by twice as many teeth or valves as there are stigmas. Laminae linear to broad. Sepals 
free or joined a little at the base. Petals entire or bifid or rarely somewhat jagged. 
The preceding tribes are connected with the following ones by Gypsophila and its allies. Species of Gypsophila some- 
times occur adventitiously in the British Islands. 
Tribe V. Lychnideae (p. 64). Stipules absent. Leaves often petioled ; laminae usually 
relatively broad. Sepals n , gamosepalous. Petals n, convolute or imbricate in bud, with narrow 
basal claw and upper spreading wide limb, often with ligules. Stamens n + n. Gynophore usually 
distinct. Stigmas n to n — 2. Capsule dehiscing septicidally or loculicidally by as many teeth as 
there are stigmas. (72 = 5.) 
Tribe VI. Sileneae (p. 69). As in Lychnideae , but flowers sometimes zygomorphic, stigmas 
usually n — 2 (sometimes n in Cucubalus maritimus), capsule often with more or less persistent septa 
(at least below), and dehiscing by twice as many teeth as there are stigmas. (n = 5.) 
Tribe VII. Diantheae (p. 85). As in Lychnideae but epicalyx present, petals with ligules, 
twisted in bud, stigmas n — 3, capsule dehiscing by twice as many teeth as there are stigmas, 
embryo usually straight. (72 = 5.) 
Tribe I. POLYCARPEAE 
Polycarpeae DC. Prodr. iii, 373 (1828); Bentham and Hooker Gen. PI. i, 143 et 152 (1862); Pax in 
Engler und Prantl Pflanzenfam. 69 et 85 (1889). 
For characters, see above. Only British genus : — Polycarpon. 
Genus 1. Polycarpon 
Polycarpon L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 881 (1759) et Gen. PI. ed. 6, 42 (1764); diagn. emend.; DC. Prodr. iii, 
376 (1828); Pax in Engler und Prantl Pflanzenfam. iii, pt. 1 b, 86 (1889); Mollugo L. Sp. PI. 89 ( 1 7 5 3 ) e t 
Gen. PI. ed. 5, 38 (1754) partim ; [ Anthyllis Adanson Fam. PI. ii, 271 (1763)]. 
Annual herbs. Leaves opposite or apparently whorled. Inflorescence bracteate, crowded. Sepals 5, 
keeled, margin scarious, apex cucullate. Petals 5, entire or emarginate, small and narrow. Stamens 
3 — 5. Ovules several. Capsule dehiscing by the 3 carpels (i.e., septicidally). Seeds curved above, 
straight below. 
6 or 7 species ; temperate and subtropical. Only British species : — P. tetraphyllum. 
