THE AMERICAN BOTAXIST 169 



weed that is often a pest in rich garden soil. It is a close rel- 

 ative of the common rose-moss or portulaca {P. grandiflora) 

 commonly culti\ atcd in cottage d()(»r\artls but nobody would 

 liH)k to it for evidences of beauty. — Nevertheless L. H. Bailey 

 reports a variety of this species {P. olcracca var. gigantlics) 

 which he found in cultivation in British Guiana, with flowers 

 more than an inch across and completely double. It may be 

 that others may find this latter plant wortli a place in the 

 flower garden. l)ut the associations of this plant in the writer's 

 mind is such that it is doubtful if he could resist pulling it up 

 l>efore it bloomed. 



