1672 



*PORTULACA Gilliesii 

 Dr. Gillies' Purslane. 



POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. PoRTULACEiE, Jiiss. {Introduction to the Natural System of 

 Botany, p. 159). 



PORTULACA. Supra, fol. 792. 



P. Gilliesii ; caulibus suberectis basi ramosis, foliis oblongo-cylindraceis subcom- 

 pressis obtusis punctatis, pilis axillaribus f'asclculatis erectis appressis, flori- 

 bus terminalibus, petalis calyce longioribus. Hooker in Bot. Mag. t. 3064. 



Dr. Gillies, to whom we are so much indebted for many 

 illustrations of the Botany of Chili and of the neighbouring 

 province of Mendoza, brought seeds of this plant to the 

 Botanic Garden of Glasgow, whence it has been liberally 

 distributed. We are informed by Dr. Hooker that it is a 

 native of the plains of Mendoza. This circumstance will 

 point out the cultivation it requires ; for the dryness of that 

 climate is so well known, that it may be easily understood that 

 the only chance of managing this plant successfully, consists 

 in preserving it, during winter, in a well ventilated dry 

 greenhouse or stove, and allowing it water only when in a 

 growing state, and then only in moderate quantity. 



It is a truly splendid plant ; but to be seen in perfection 

 it should be exposed to the greatest heat and the brightest 

 light that our summers will supply. It then opens its rich 

 crimson flowers in considerable quantity, and lying as they 

 do upon a little bed of neat deep green leaves, the prettiest 

 effect imaginable is produced. 



It is a perennial, and is propagated readily by cuttings. 

 Our drawing was made last July in the garden of the Horti- 

 cultural Society. 



* An ancient Latin name, whose supposed origin has exercised the ingenuity 

 of the learned, but concerning which we find notliing worth explaining or con- 

 trovertins. — Smith . 



