6 rOLYANDRIA. Mt)NOGy:MA. 



357. PORTULx\CA. L, (Purslane.) 



Calix inferior, bifid. Petals 5. Capsule l- 

 celled, openin,^ circularly. Becepiacle uncon- 

 nected, 5-lobed. 



Succiilent ana herbaceous plants with thick'ish leaves, 

 which are opposite or alternate, axils of the leaves na- 

 ked or pililerous; flowers terniinatiiip: the smaller br<inch- 

 es, soiltui-y or aggregated, partly involucrale. Stamina 

 sometimes 8. 



Species. 1. P. oleracea. Indigenous on the saline 

 and denudated plains of the Missouri. A plant common 

 to every quarter of the world. 



A tropical genus, excepting P. oleracea, consisting of 

 about 6 species, indigenous to America, ligypt, and India. 



358. TALINUM. Manson, 



Calix 2 to 5 leaved, inferior. Petals 5. 

 Capsule 1 -celled, 3-valved, many seeded. Re- 

 ceptacle globose. Seeds ariilate. 



Shrubby- suffruticose or herbaceous plants, with alter- 

 nate thickish, or succulent leaves, axills of the leaves 

 8ometinics piliterous; flowers terminal, paniculate, race- 

 mose or corymbose. 



Species. 1. T. ieretifolium. Leaves terete, subulate, 

 camosc; scape cymose, flowers pedunculate polyandrous, 

 calix 2-lcaved, mule. Phyt. t. 223. f. 2. "Sedu'm petrjc- 

 iim terclifolium Yirginianum." Obs. Koot perennial, 

 .subcespitosc, leaves crowded, radical; scapes elongated 

 naked; flowers purple, peduncle subtended by oj^positc 

 membranaceous bractes. IIab. In the mountains of Vir- 

 ginia, j^nd in Louisiana near St. Louis. Found al&o several 

 years ago by Di-. Darlington near Chester in the state of 

 Delaware. 



559. CHELIDONIUM. Z. (Celandine.) 



Calix 2-leaved, deciduous. Petals 4. Stig- 

 ma small and bifid, sessile. Siliqne superior, 

 2-valvcd, 1-celled, linear. Dissepiment none. 

 Seeds many, crested. 



Herbaceous, leaves alternate, pinnatifidly lobed;.pedun- 

 cles umbellate many flowered, axillary and terminal; 

 fiowei'3 yellow; stamina about 12j s»p yellow and bitter. 



