AIZOACEAE. 



125 



or more numerous. Anthers 2-celled. Carpels 2 or several, united. Ovary 

 2-many-celled or 1-celled by suppression, superior, or somewhat inferior. 

 Styles or stigmas as many as cavities in the ovary. Ovules 1 or many. 

 Fruit a capsule, or rarely berry-like or nut-like. Endosperm copious. Em- 

 bryo curved. About 22 genera and 500 species, widely distributed. 



Calyx not adnate to the ovary ; capsule circumsclsslle. 

 Calyx adnate to the ovary ; fruit indehiscent. 



1. Sesuvium. 



2. Tetragowia. 



1. SESUVIUM L. 



Fleshy decumbent or prostrate herbs, with opposite leaves and axillary 

 pink or purplish flowers. Stipules none, but the petioles often dilated and 

 connate at the base. Calyx-tube top-shaped, 5-lobed, the lobes oblong, obtuse. 

 Stamens 5-60, inserted on the calyx-tube. Filaments filiform, sometimes united 

 at the base. Ovary 3-5-celled. Styles 3-5, papillose along the inner side. 

 Capsule membranous, oblong, 3-5-celled, circumscisrile. Seeds round-reniform, 

 smooth; embryo annular. About 4 species, natives of seacoasts and saline 

 regions, the following typical. [Derivation uncertain.] 



1. Sesuvium Portulacastrum L. SEA 



PURSLANE. SEASIDE PURSLANE. (Fig. 144.) 

 Perennial, fleshy, glabrous. Stems usually 

 diffusely branched, the branches prostrate, 

 often creeping, forming patches often 5-6 

 broad; leaves oblanceolate to oblong, i'-2' 

 long, acute or aeutish, the bases clasping; 

 flowers short-peduncled, solitary in the axils ; 

 sepals broadly lanceolate, 3 "-5" long, 

 hooded, purple within, the back prolonged 

 into an appendage; stamens numerous; cap- 

 sule conic, 4"-5" long. 



Common In salt marshes and on coastal 

 sands. Native. Southeastern United States 

 and West Indies. Doubtless transported to 

 Bermuda by floating. Flowers from spring to 

 autumn. An abundant and characteristic 

 coastal plant. 



2. TETRAGONIA L. 



Herbs, somewhat fleshy, with alternate, estipulate leaves and small axillary 

 flowers. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary extending beyond it; sepals 3-5. 

 Stamens inserted on the calyx-tube. Ovary 1-s everal-celled ; styles as many as 

 the ovary-cavities. Fruit nut-like, often 4-angled, indehiscent. Seeds reniform; 

 embryo curved. [Greek, four-angled.] About 20 species. Type species: 

 Tetragonia fruticosa L. 



