254 PORTULACEA. TRIANTHEMA. 
« A most extensive perennial climbing plant, with a large fusiform root, a 
considerable portion of which is above ground, tapering from the surface of 
the ground into the stem, which in a few years becomes ligneous."—Roxs. 
—Rheed. t. 23. represents the foliage of a young plant; t. 22. an accidental 
state, not worth noticing, with only two valves to the fruit, which is conse- 
quently oblong and not globular ; his other two figures represent the male 
and female flowers of the common form: the omission of the ciliated petals 
in some of them we consider of little consequence (although trusted to by 
De Candolle), as no such difference is noticed in the descriptions. 
ORDER LXX.—PORTULACEZ. Juss. 
Sepals generally 2, seldom 3 or 5, cohering at the base. Petals 
usually 5, sometimes 3, 4, or 6, or rarely wanting, distinct, or cohering 
at the base, inserted into the bottom of the calyx, sometimes almost 
hypogynous, alternating with the sepals when of the same number. 
Stamens inserted with the petals, variable in number, all fertile: fila- 
ments distinct, opposite to the petals or alternating with the sepals when 
of the same number : anthers versatile, 2-celled, bursting longitudinal- 
ly. Ovarium 1, free, 1-celled : style rarely simple with a simple stig- 
ma, usually cleft at the apex or to the base into 2-3 or more filiform 
segments (stigmas ?) papillose on the inner side. Capsule 1-celled, de- 
hiscing transversely (a pyxidium), or by 3 valves. Seeds numerous, 
or few (1, 2, 3, or 4), usually attached to a central placenta or to the 
base of the fruit, very rarely to parietal placentas, campulitropous : 
testa usually erustaceous and black. Embryo curved round the cir- 
cumference of a farinaceous albumen : radicle long.— Succulent plants. 
Leaves usually alternate, without stipules, or with scarious ones at each 
side at the base. 
I. TRIANTHEMA.  Linn.; Lam. ill. t. 375; Gertn. fr. 2. t. 128. f. 5. 
Calyx 5-sepaled: sepals united at the base, mucronate below the apex 
slightly coloured on the inner surface. Petals none. Stamens 5 or 10 oF 
more, inserted on the tube of the calyx. Anthers cordate-ovate. Ovary 
ovate. Style simple or 2-3-partite. Capsule 1-celled (or with a spurious 
longitudinal dissepiment projected from the placenta when the style is pho 
tite), splitting transversely a little above the base : lid coriaceous, containing 
1-2 seeds attached to an unilateral placenta: bottom membranaceous, with 
1 or more seeds attached to an unilateral placenta on the opposite side from 
that in the lid. Seeds pitted.—Héerbaceous plants more or less fleshy, some- 
times suffrutescent at the base. Leaves opposite, very entire; petioled, t^? 
petiole dilated on each side into a stipule-shaped membrane. Flowers 2? WD 
lary, solitary or fascicled, sessile or on short pedicels. 
We have altered the character of the order slightly for the reception be diced v 
which, although all agree to refer to Portulaces, no one that we KPerbaps the dis - 
