On Monday, May 26, 2008 10:13:47 AM UTC-7, Dr Phadke wrote: > > CARYOPHYLLACEAE > ** > > In India this family consists of 20 genera and 105 species mostly in > temperate regions. > > *Vegetative characters: * > > Mostly annual or perennial herbs and rarely under shrubs . *Stellaria > aquatic*a is an aquatic herb. > > The root is usually a tap root and the stem is often swollen at nodes. > > The leaves are opposite or rarely alternate, simple, mostly linear to > lanceolate and sessile. The two leaves at the stem are often connected > basally around the stem. The stipules are usually absent. > > *Inflorescence and flowers: * > > The *Inflorescence* is typically dichasial cyme often terminating the > main axis. A branch is formed in the axil of each bracteole of the main > axis but one of the branches tends to outgrow the other and in the ultimate > branching the weaker branch fails to develop. Thus the Inflorescence which > is dichasial cyme in its initial branching pass into scorpioid cyme. This > type of Inflorescence is very characteristic of the family and is known as > cincinnus or caryophyllus type of Inflorescence. > > The *flowers* are hermaphrodite or rarely unisexual, actinomorphic, > pentamerous and hypogynous or rarely slightly perigynous as in arenaria. > > The *calyx* is usually five basally connate sepals . > > The *corolla* has as many petals as the sepals. The *petals* are free and > are usually differentiated into a limb and a claw. The *stamens* are > usually twice the number of petals in two equal and alternate whorls. They > show obdiplostemonous condition. The filaments are distinct or slightly > connate at the base. > > The *gynoecium* is of two or three to five fused carpels.the ovary is > superior or slightly inferior and unilocular with free central > placentation. > > A disc is present at the base of the stamens which is annular or divided > into glands. > > The *fruit* is membranous or crustaceous capsule opening by valves or > apical teeth. > > The *seeds* are endospermic with more or less curved embryo. > > *Pollination* is by insects. > > The seeds are dispersed by water, wind or by adhesion or by birds, animals > and human agency. > > *Examples*: > > The family is valuable for its large colourful ornamental flowers which > are easily grown. > > Dianthus species are cultivated for very showy flowers. > > *Dianthus caryophylus. (Carnation)* > > *Dianthus plumarius* > > *Dianthus latifolius* > > *Dianthus barbatus* > > *Vaccaria pyramidata* > > *Silene * > > *Lychnis* > > *Gypsofila* > > *Cerastium* > > *Arenaria* > > *Stellaria media; S.vestita* > > *Spergula arvensis* > SATISFIED http://satishphadke.blogspot.com/
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