434 Portulacaceae Talinum 



found a sandy, white oak clearing of about ten acres which had grown 

 up thickly with this species after it had been grazed by hogs until the 

 mineral soil had been exposed all over the area. In old orchards and 

 forest plantings that have been heavily grazed by hogs, it is usually a com- 

 mon weed. It prefers a rich, moist soil. The largest specimens I ever saw 

 were in a muck soil in a marsh that had just passed into the soft maple 

 stage. The plants grew here 6-8 feet high and were wide spreading and 

 I estimated that a single plant would produce not less than a gallon of 

 berries. I mention this fact because I believe that in due time the fruit 

 of this species will be of horticultural importance. Although the berries 

 have an objectionable bitter flavor, they are not poisonous as some people 

 think. The root, however, is poisonous. All my life I have been tasting 

 the berries to find one that lacked the characteristic flavor, but without 

 success. About 60 years ago I recall that a hotel keeper came to our 

 woods to gather pokeberries and elderberries which he canned and used 

 about half and half for making pies. If the pokeberries alone are used, 

 some vinegar should be added. They make a very rich looking and palatable 

 pastry. I recall eating them in pies when I was a boy. The dried berries 

 macerated with whiskey were formerly used for rheumatism. 

 Southern Maine, Ont. to Minn., southw. to Fla., Ark., and Mex. 



84. AIZOACEAE A. Br. Carpet-weed Family 

 2387. MOLLUGO L. 



1. Mollugo verticillata L. Carpet-weed. Map 891. The carpet- 

 weed is distributed throughout the state in dry or moist soils that are not 

 covered with vegetation. It is infrequent, frequent or common where 

 found, usually on the sandy shores of streams, in cultivated fields such as 

 cornfields, stubble fields, and truck gardens, in ballast along railroads, 

 along roadsides, and elsewhere in sandy soil. 



Throughout temperate and tropical N. A. ; also in S. A. and in the Old 

 World. 



85. PORTULACACEAE Reichenb. Purslane Family 



Calyx free from the ovary; capsule 3-valved. 



Leaves terete, more than 2; seed numerous 2406. Talinum, p. 434. 



Leaves 2, not terete, sometimes nearly so; seed not more than 6 



2412. Claytonia, p. 435. 



Calyx partly adnate to the ovary; capsule circumscissile 2421. Portulaca, p. 435. 



2406. TALlNUM Adans. 



1. Talinum rugospermum Holzinger. (Holzinger. Talinum rugosper- 

 mum. Torreya 28: 94-95. 1928 and Fassett. Talinum teretifolium and T. 

 rugospermum. Rhodora 30: 205-206. 1928.) Prairie Talinum. Map 892. 

 This plant was first reported by Babcock (Lens 1 : 23. 1872) as found on 

 the sand hills at Miller and Tolleston in Lake County. On Nov. 22, 1928, 

 Norman C. Fassett wrote me that there were five specimens in the herbar- 

 ium of the University of Wisconsin collected by L. M. Umbach at Miller on 

 the following dates: July 26, 1895; June 23, 1898; June 27, 1899; July 17, 



