Sepals not prolonged at base. Petals very unequal, the two upper shorter, the lower longest and largest, concave at base, contracted in the middle. Filaments distinct, the two lower with a scale-like gland or spur at base; anthers merely connivent.--Perennials, branching and leafy, with alternate and opposite leaves, and small axillary flowers. (Name from ἴον, _violet_, and εἶδος, _appearance_.) 1. I. polygalæfòlium, Vent. Stems low, from a woody base; leaves linear to oblanceolate, or the lower obovate, entire, the stipules leaf-like or small or none; flowers solitary, nodding, 2´´ long, white. (I. lineare, _Torr._)--Kan. and southwestward. ORDER 15. CARYOPHYLLÀCEÆ. (PINK FAMILY.) _Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, symmetrical 4--5-merous flowers, with or without petals, the distinct stamens no more than twice the number of the sepals, either hypogynous or perigynous, styles 2--5 (or rarely united into one); seeds several or usually many, attached to the base or to the central column of the 1-celled (rarely 3--5-celled) pod, with a slender embryo coiled or curved around the outside of mealy albumen_, in Dianthus nearly straight.--Bland herbs; the stems usually swollen at the joints; uppermost leaves rarely alternate. Leaves often united at the base. Calyx persistent. Styles stigmatic along the inside. Seeds amphitropous or campylotropous. Tribe I. SILENEÆ. Sepals united into a tube or cup. Petals (mostly convolute in the bud) and stamens (10) borne on the stipe or stalk of the ovary, the former with slender claws, to the base of which the corresponding filaments often adhere, included in the calyx tube. Seeds numerous.--Stipules none. Flowers often large and showy. [*] Calyx with scaly bractlets or small leaves at the base. Seeds flattened on the back, attached by their face; embryo nearly straight. 1. Dianthus. Calyx terete, mostly cylindrical. Styles 2. [*][*] Calyx naked. Seeds globular or kidney-shaped; embryo curved or coiled. 2. Gypsophila. Calyx top-shaped or campanulate. Pod deeply 4-valved. Styles 2. 3. Saponaria. Calyx oblong-cylindrical, obscurely nerved, terete or 5-angled. Pod shortly 4-valved. Styles 2. 4. Silene. Calyx 5-toothed, 10-nerved. Styles 3. 5. Lychnis. Calyx 5-toothed, 10-nerved. Styles 5, rarely 4. Tribe II. ALSINEÆ. Sepals distinct or nearly so, imbricated in the bud. Petals when present without claws, mostly imbricated, and with the stamens inserted at the base of the sessile ovary, or into a little disk. Pod splitting into valves or teeth several--many-seeded. Stamens opposite the sepals, when not more in number.--Low herbs. [*] Stipules none. [+] Styles opposite the sepals, or, when fewer, opposite those which are exterior in the bud. [++] Pod short, splitting into as many valves as styles; valves often bifid or 2-parted. 6. Arenaria. Petals entire. Styles usually 3. Valves of the pod entire, bifid or 2-parted. 7. Stellaria. Petals 2-cleft or none. Styles usually 3. Valves bifid or 2-parted.