160 



wanting. S'/amens inserted along with the petals irregularly into the base of the calyx, 

 variable in number, all fertile, sometimes opposite the petals ; Jilaments distinct ; anthers 

 versatile, with 2 cells, opening lengtliwise. Ovarium superior, 1 -celled; style single, or 

 none; stigmata several, much divided. Capsule 1-celled, dehiscing either transversely 

 or by 3 valves, occasionally 1-seeded and indehiscent. Seeds numerous, if the fruit 

 is dehiscent ; attached to a central placenta ; albumen farinaceous ; embryo curved round 

 the circumference of the albumen, with a long radicle. — Succ\ilent shrubs or herbs. 

 Leaves alternate, seldom opposite, entire, without stipulw, or sometimes with, membranous 

 ones on each side at the base. Flowers axillary or terminal, u'feually ephemeral, expand- 

 ing only in bright sunshine. 



Affinities. Related in every point of view to Caryophylleee, from 

 which they scarcely differ except in their perigynous stamens, which are 

 opposite the petals when equal to them in number, and two sepals ; the 

 latter character is not, however, very constant. The presence of scarious 

 stipulse in several Portulacese, although perhaps an anomaly in the order, 

 indicates their affinity with lUecebrese, from which the monospermous genera 

 of Portulacege are distinguished by the want of symmetry in their flowers, 

 and by the stamens being opposite the petals instead of the sepals. So close 

 is the relationship between these orders, that several of the genus Ginginsia 

 in Portulacese have been referred to Pharnaceum in Caryophylleae, and 

 several Portulaceee have been described by authors as belonging to genera 

 of Illecebrese. Decandolle remarks, that his Gii)ginsia brevicaulis resembles 

 certain species of Androsace, and that Portulacese have been more than once 

 compared to Primulacesse (Me»i. p. 14.); and the same author x'emarks, in 

 another place {Prodr. 3. 351.), that the genera with indefinite stamens and 

 hairy axillae approach Cactese, while the apetalous genera tend towards ape- 

 talous Ficoidese. 



Geography. A fourth of the order inhabits the Cape of Good Hope, 

 rather more than another fourth is found in South America, 1 only in Guinea, 

 2 in New Holland, 1 in Europe, and the remainder in various parts of the 

 world. They are always found in dry parched places. 



Properties. Insipidity, want of smell, and a dull green colour, are the 

 usual qualities of this order, of which the only species of any known use -are 

 common Purslane and Claytonia perfoliata, which resemble each other in 

 property. 



Examples. Portulaca, Montia, Talinum. 



CXLV. FOUQUIERACE^. 



FouQuiERACEiE, Dec. Prodr. [i. 349. (1828). 



Diagnosis. Succulent polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, a superior ovarium with several cells, and a terminal 

 style, regular flowers, the petals of which cohere in a tube, indefinite ovula, 

 and no disk. 



Anomalies. 



Essential CnAnACTEU Sepals 5, imbricated, ovate, or roundish. Petals 5, 



combined in a long tube, arising from the l)ottom of the calyx or torus, regular. Stamens 

 10 or 12, arising from the same line as the petals, but distinct from them, exserted ; 

 anthers 2-celled. Ovarium superior, sessile; style filiform, tritid at the apex; ovules 

 numerous. Capsule 3-cornered, 3-celled, 3.valved ; valves l)earing the dissepiments in 

 the middle. Seeds in part abortive, compressed, winged, affixed to the axis ; embryo 



straight, in the centre of thin flesliy albumen ; cotyledons flat Trees or shrubs, l.eaves 



entire, oblong, fleshy, clustered in the axilla of a s])ine or a cushion. Flowers scarlet, 

 arranged in a terminal spike or panicle. 



Affinities. Separated from Portulacese by Decandolle, as he tells us 



