ALSINACEAE. 113 



Ovary and capsule superior : capsule 3-valvea. 



Sepals deciduous : stamens more numerous tlian the sepals, or petals • capsules 



many-seeded. 1. talindm. 



Sepals persistent : stamens as many as the sepals, or petals ■ 



capsules few-seeded. 2. Claytonia. 



Ovary and capsule wholly or partly inferior : capsule circumsclssile. 3. Portulaca. 



1. TALINUM Adans. Perennial sometimes partially woody herbs, the 

 stem and branches mostly terminating in wiry peduncles. Leaves terete or 

 flat. Flowers erect. Sepals 2, deciduous. Petals 5 or more. Style elongate. 

 Ovules many on a stalked placenta. 



1. T. teretifolium Pursh. Plant 1-2.5 dm. tall: leaf -blades 2-6 cm. long, 

 narrow: bracts conspicuously prolonged backward: corolla blue or purplish, 

 2-3 cm. wide: stamens 15-30: capsules 4-5 mm. in diameter. — S. Frequent, 

 on serpentine hills.- — Sum. 



2. CLAYTONIA [Gronov.] L. Perennial or annual fleshy herbs, the 

 weak stems often arising from tuber-like corms. Leaves flat. Flowers spread- 

 ing or nodding. Sepals 2, persistent. Petals 5. Style elongate. Ovules few, 

 on a sessile placenta. 



1. C. virginica L. Plants 5-25 cm. tall: leaf -blades narrowly linear, some- 

 times very narrow, 6-14 cm. long: sepals becoming 4—7 mm. long: petals 9—13 

 mm. long: seeds about 2.5 mm. wide. — Common, in woods. — Spr. — Spring- 

 beauty. 



3. PORTULACA [Tourn.] L. Annual or perennial succulent herbs. 

 Leaves flat or terete. Flowers erect. Sepals 2, deciduous. Petals 4-6. Style 

 short ; stigmas 3-8, slender. Ovules many on a basal placenta. — Portulaca. 



1. P. oleracea L. Plants prostrate: leaf -blades cuneate to obovate, 1-3 cm. 

 long, rounded at the apex: petals yellow, 4-8 mm. long, notched: capsules 5-9 

 mm. long. — Common, in cultivated grounds and waste places. — Spr.-fall. — 

 Purslane. Pussley. 



Family 7. ALSINACEAE. Chickweed Tamily. 



Herbs, sometimes woody at the base. Leaves opposite : blades entire. 

 Flowers mostly perfect. Calyx of 4 or 5 persistent, distinct sepals. 

 Corolla of 4 or 5 elawless petals, or wanting. Androecinm of twice as 

 many stamens as sepals, or fewer. Gynoecium of 2-5 united carpels. 

 Ovaiy superior. Fruit a capsule subtended by the calyx. 



Stipules present. 1. Tissa. 



Stipules wanting. 



Petals entire, toothed, or slightly notched. 



Stigmas as many as the sepals. 2. Sagina. 



Stigmas fewer than sepals. 



Petals toothed : flowers in umbel-like cymes. 3. Holosteum. 



Petals entire or emarginate : flowers in dichotomous or 

 capitate cymes or solitary. 

 Capsules opening by as many valves as there are 



stigmas. 4. Alsinopsis. 



Capsules opening by twice as many valves as there 

 are stigmas. 

 Seeds not strophiolate : capsule many-seeded. 5. Arenaeia. 

 Seeds strophiolate : capsule few-seeded. 6. Moehringia. 



Petals 2-cleft or 2-parted. 



Capsules relatively short, ovoid or oblong. 7. Alsine. 



Capsules relatively long, cylindric. 8. Cerastium. 



1. TISSA Adans. Annual, biennial, or perennial, diffuse herbs. Leaf- 

 blades narrow. Flowers in raceme-like cymes. Sepals 5, persistent. Petals 5, 

 or fewer, entire, or wanting. Stamens 2-10. Stigmas slender. 



Lancaster County Flora 8. 



