PoRTULACA. XXiV. PORTULACACR/E. 133 



Calyx and its scales J' long. Petals small, pink-colored, sprinkled with white, 

 crenate. Auj^. 



2. D. BARBATUs. Sweet William or Bunch Pink. — Lts. lanceolate ; Jls. aggre- 

 gate, fascicled ; scales of the calyx ovate-subulate, as long as the tube. — % An 

 ornamental flower slilf valued as in the times of old Gerardc, " for its beauty 

 to deck up the bosoms of the bepaitiful, and garlands and crowns for pleasure." 

 Stems IJf high, thick. Leaves 'i — 5' by J — 1', narrowed to the clasping base. 

 Flowers in fastigiate cymes, red or whitish, often greatly variegated. May. — Jl. f 



3. D. Chinensis. China Pink. — St. branched ; Ivs. linear-lanceolate ; Jl. 

 solitary; scales linear, leafy, spreading, as long as the tube. — @) Native of 

 China. An elegant species, well characterized by its leafy, spreading scales, 

 and its large, toothed or crenate, red petals. The foliage, like the other .spe- 

 cies, is evergreen, being as abundant and vivid in winter as in smnmer. -f 



^4. D. PLUMARius. Single Pink. Pheasant' s-eye. — Glaucous; st. 2 — 3-flow- 

 ered; Jls. solitary; calyx teeth obtuse; scales ovate, very acute; Ivs. linear; 

 rough at the edge; pet. many-cleft, hairy at the throat. — % Native of Europe. 

 From this species probably originated those beautiful pinks called pheasant's 

 eye, of which there are enumerated in Scotland no less than 300 varieties. 

 Flowers white and purple. Jn. — Aug. f ' 



5. D. CARVOPHYLi.us. Ca.rnation. Dizarres, Picotees, Flakes, ^c.-^Lvs. 

 linear-subulate, channeled, glaucous; Jls. solitary; scaZes very short, ovate; pet. 

 very broad, beardless, crenate. — Stem 2 — 3f high, branched. Flowers white 

 and crimson; petals crenate. This species is supposed to be the parent of all 

 the splendid varieties of the carnation. Over 400 sorts are now enumerated 

 by florists, distinguished mostly by some peculiarity in color, which is crimson, 

 white, red, purple, scarlet, yellow, and arranged in every possible order of 

 stripes, dots, flakes, and angles. 



6. D. sL-PEUBUs. Superb Pink. — Ln:s. linear-subulate; Jls. fastigiate; scales 

 short, ovate, mucronate; pet. pinnate. — 11- A singularly beautiful pink, native 

 of Europe. Stem 2f high, branching, with many flowers. Petals white, gashed 

 in a pinnate manner beyond the middle, and hairy at the moitth. Jl. — Sept. 



OS5._Other species of this admiralile penus are occasionally cultivated, but the varieties of Nos. 4 and 

 5 are bv far the most common. The " MtmOUy Pink," common in house cultivation, with bright green, 

 channeled, linear leaves, short, CiEspitose stems, pink-red, douliie flowers, appears to be a variety of D. 

 Carthusianoriun. 



Order XXIV. PORTULACACE^.— Purslanes. 



Herbs succulent or fleshy, -with entire leaves and no stipules. 



Ca!. — Sepals 2, united at base. 



Cw.— Petals 5, sometimes more or less, imbricated in astivatHin. 



S!a. variable in number. Filaine/irs distinct. Anthers versatUe or mtroTse. 



Ooa superior icelled. .?fi/. several, sti^'inalose alonsr the inner surface. 



Ft a pyxis, dehiscing by ulid or capsule, Uiciuicidal, with as many valves as stigmas. 



Genera 12, species 184, inhabitmg dry places in every quarter of the world. They possess no remark* 

 ble properties. 



Co?uyicclus of the Gen-era. 



5 capsule 3.valved. . Po"7S \ 



58-20. h-yxisdchHCin. transversely - • • l^^^ii 



'itamens ; 5, ojiposile the petals. 



I. PORT UL Ac A. Tourn. 

 Sepals 2, the upper portion deciduous; petals 5 (4— 6), equal; 

 stameDS 8—20 ; styles 3— Gcleft or parted ; pyxis subglobose, dehis- 

 cing near the middle, many-seeded.— iow, Jierbaceovs, fleshy, h Is. 

 expa?idhig only in sunshine.. 



1. P. OLERACEA. Purslanc. 



Lvs. cuneate;/5. sessile.—® A prostrate, fleshy weed, more coinmon 

 in our gardens than desirable. Stem thick and succulent, much branched and 

 spreading, smooth. Leaves fleshy, sessile, rounded at the end. Flowers yellow. 

 The herbage of the plant is of a rbddi.sh-green color. Sometimes used as a pot- 

 herb. Jn. — Aug. § 



