204 
PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO 
[ Caryophyllea. 
the summit often slightly repand or faintly denticulated; the midnerve conspicuous; the lateral nerves faint. 
Pedicels capillary, axillary and terminal, consociated into spurious and usually few-flowered umbels, scantily 
woolly-downy, in age more glabrous, promiscuously longer or shorter than the calyx. Bracteoles at the base 
of the pedicels, membranous, usually less than 1 line long, lanceolate- or linear-subulate, ciliolated. Sepals 
about H line long, one-nerved; the two outer oblong- or lanceolate-cymbiform, herbaceous, the three inner 
sepals ovate-lanceolate; two on both sides, one on the inner side membranous. Stamens frequently 3 and 
then opposite to the septa of the capsule, or in Indian specimens often increased in number. Filaments 
linear-setaceous, one-neiwed, membranous, glabrous, free, about 1 line long. Anthers yellow, about | line 
long, consisting of two narrow-ellipsoid towards the middle connate cells. Stigmas very minute, loundish, 
depressed, in Indian specimens more erect and slightly elongated. Capsule broad egg-shaped, about lj line 
long, sessile, membranous. Column subulate, narrow-tripterous. Seeds numerous, seriate along the placentae, 
pressed into three irregular rows, placed almost horizontally, pyriform-renate, glittering, dark-brown, about 
x li n e long, rough from seriate dots, affixed to a very short funicle, which is adnate to the strophiole. The 
latter oval or oblong, whitish. Bristly appendage extending laxly and in a more or less flexuose line around 
the back of the seed, reaching nearly the chalaza. 
The specimens from the Murray River, examined on this occasion, are devoid of the forked staminoid 
petals, which are usually present in Indian specimens; we find here moreover the flowers seldom otherwise 
than triandrous, whilst the whole plant occurs more downy with shorter pedicels. But Piofessoi Fenzl has 
traced varieties similar to the Australian plant into the petaliferous and pleiostemonous Indian forms, leaving 
little doubt of our plant being justly referred to G. Mollugo. Some specimens from Arnhem s Land are 
almost glabrous, but are like those from the Murray River apetalous. 
Order CARYOPHYLLExE. 
Juss. Gen. 299. 
Elowers bisexual, usually symmetrical. Sepals 5, rarely 4, free or connate, 
persistent, imbricate in bud. Petals 5, rarely 4, alternate with the sepals, free, in 
bud contorted, rarely wanting. Stamens as many as the sepals and opposite or rarely 
alternate to them, or double their number, very seldom less, those opposite the petals 
shorter and sometimes barren. Pilaments free or at the base connate. Anthers 
two-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary free, one-celled. Ovules usually numerous. 
Punicles arising from the base of the ovary, free or joined into a columella. Styles 
2-5, free or towards the base united, inwards longitudinally stigmatose. Capsule 
perfectly or imperfectly valvate, dehiscent from the summit. Albumen central-unilateral, 
farinaceous. Embryo peripherical, incompletely annular. 
Herbaceous or suffruticose, seldom frutescent plants, of vast exuberance in the 
temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, elsewhere except in South Africa com¬ 
paratively rare. Stems often dicliotomously branched. Leaves opposite, often connate 
at the base, sometimes spuriously verticillate, simple, never lobed or grossly-toothed. 
Stipules oftener wanting than developed. Inflorescence various. Petals prevailingly 
white or various shades of red.— Fenzl, in Midi. Gen. Plant. 955. 
