1 | Stipules present (Paronychioideae) |
1' | Stipules absent |
2 | Leaves broad, ovate-orbicular |
2' | Leaves linear-narrowly elliptic |
3 | Styles 5 (or 3), free |
3' | Styles joined, at least at the base |
4 | Sepals carinate, green with scarious margin |
4' | Sepals not carinate, entirely scarious (except for a green midnerve in P. zollingeri). |
5 | Sepals free, petals short clawed (Alsinoideae) |
5' | Sepals connate, petals usually long-clawed (Caryophylloideae) |
6 | Styles 2 |
6' | Styles 2-5, flowers always hypogynous, if styles 2 then petals divided |
7 | Flowers perigynous, small, petals absent |
7' | Flowers hypogynous, petals usually present |
8 | Capsule opening with undivided valves in the same number as styles. |
8' | Capsule opening with more or less deeply divided teeth, so that the number is twice that of styles |
9 | Styles 2-3 |
9' | Styles 5 |
10 | Capsule ovoid, dehiscing by 5 bifid valves, styles alternating with the sepals, petals divided to the base |
10' | Capsule cylindrical, dehiscing by 10 equal or subequal teeth, styles opposite the sepals, petals undivided or divided halfway down |
11 | Calyx 5-winged, styles 2 |
11' | Calyx not winged, styles 2, 3, or 5 |
12 | Styles 3-5 |
12' | Styles 2 |
13 | Styles 3 (4-5), capsule-teeth twice as many as styles |
13' | Styles 5, capsule-teeth as many as styles |
14 | Calyx teeth with scarious commisures |
14' | Calyx teeth without scarious commisures |
15 | Epicalyx scales present |
15' | Epicalyx scales absent |