BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
75 
THE MOUNTAIN PINK. (D. ccesius, Smith.) 
This is a very handsome perennial species; but it is rare, as it is only found on the lime-stone rocks at 
Cheddar in Somersetshire. The flowers are large, of a pale-pink, and very fragrant. 
GENUS II. 
THE SOAPWORT. (Saponaria, Lin.) 
Lin. Syat. DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Genrric Character. —Calyx tubular, five-toothed, naked at the base. Petals with claws the length of the calyx. Stamens ten. Stigmas 
two. Capsule one-celled. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one species in this genus which is a native of Britain. It is very closely 
allied to Dianthus ; but all the species belonging to the latter genus have five little scales at the base of the calyx, 
which look like a second calyx on the outside of the other, and their petals are more or less fringed. Now the 
Soapwort is destitute of these calycine scales, and the petals are not fringed. The names of Saponaria and 
Soapwort have both the same meaning, and allude to the property of the plant of forming a soap-like lather 
with water. It is placed in the same Linmean class and order as the Dianthus. 
1.—THE COMMON SOAP-WORT. (Saponaria officinalis, LinS ) 
Synonyme. —Bootia vulgaris, Neck. Specific Character. —Calyx cylindrical. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1060 ; 2nd ed., t. 613 ; and our fig. (Smith.) 
1, in PI. 17. 
Description, &c. —This is a very handsome perennial, growing in many parts of England, hut not found 
in Scotland. It generally grows in moist shady places, and attains the height of one or two feet, dividing into 
several stems, each of which bears a handsome panicle of blush-coloured flowers, which appear in August and 
September, and have a sweet but rather sickly smell. There is a very handsome variety, with double flowers, 
common in gardens. 
GENUS III. 
THE CATCH-FLY. (Silene, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 
Generic Character —Calyx tubular, five-tootbed, naked. Petals five, unguiculate, generally Laving scales at the throat, with a bifid limb. 
Stamens ten. Stigmas three. Capsules tliree-celled at the base, dehiscing at the apex with six teeth. (Dec.) 
Description, &c.—This is such a very extensive genus that it is generally divided into sections, which 
depend upon the nature of the stem and branches. All the species have a sort of glutinous foam upon them, in 
which flies and other small insects are often entrapped ; and hence the English name of Catchfly. The name of 
Silene is derived from Silenus, the god of drunkards, in allusion to the foam of the plants being somewhat like 
that which proceeds from the mouth of a man in the last stage of intoxication. These plants are placed in 
the Linnman class Decandria, on account of their ten stamens ; and in the order Trigynia, from their three styles. 
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