44 PORTULACACEJE. (PURSLANE FAMILY.) 
Smooth herbs, with a simple stem bearing two opposite leaves, and terminated 
with a loose raceme of pale rose-colored, veiny flowers. 
1. C. Virginica, L. Leaves long (3/-6/), linear, acutish ; petals mostl 
emarginate, but sometimes acute. — Damp rich soil in the upper districts. 
March. — Plant 4' -10 long. 
2. C. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves short (1'- 2!), ovate-lanceolate or 
oblong, tapering at the base, obtuse; petals obtuse. — Mountains of North Caro- 
lina and northward. March and April. — Smaller than the last. 
2. TALINUM, Adans. 
Sepals 2, free, deciduous. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens 10-30. Style r 
3-lobed. Capsule 3-celled at the base, 3-valved, many-seeded. — Smooth and 
fleshy herbs, with alternate leaves and cymose flowers. 
1. T. teretifolium, Pursh. Stem thick, leafy; leaves linear-cylindrieal; | 
cymes on long peduncles; petals purple, fugacious. — Rocks, North Carolina — 
and northward. June- Aug. | — Stems 92! - 4! long. Peduncles 5' - 8' long. 
3. PORTULACA, Tourn. PURSLANE. 
Sepals 2, united and cohering with the ovary below, the upper portion circum- 
scissile and deciduous with the upper part. of the capsule. Petals 4 - 6; inserted. : 
with the 8—20 stamens on the calyx. Style 3-8-parted. Capsule globose, — 
l-celled, many-seeded. — Low, fleshy herbs, with terete or flat, mostly alternate — 
leaves, and fugacious yellow or purple flowers. 
l. P. oleracea, L. Leaves flat, cuneate, naked in the axils ; flowers yel- - 
low ; stamens 10-12.— Cultivated ground everywhere. — Stem prostrate. 
2. P. pilosa, L. Leaves linear, obtuse, with a tuft of hairs in the axils; 
flowers purple; stamens about 20. — Key West, Florida. 
4. SESUVIUM, L. Sea PURSLANE, 
Sepals 5, free, united at the base, persistent, colored within. Petals mone. - 
Stamens 5, or numerous, inserted on the calyx. Styles 3-5. Capsule 3-5- — 
celled, many-seeded, circumscissile. — Prostrate and fleshy maritime plants, — 
with nearly opposite and entire leaves, and axillary purplish flowers. 
1. S. portulacastrum, L. Leaves lanceolate and oblong, acute, an 
winged and clasping petioles ; flowers 
a 
