44 PORTULACACEyE. (PURSLANE FAMILY.) 



Smooth herbs, with a simple stem bearing two opposite leaves and terniinated 

 with a loose raceme of pale rose-colored, veiny flowers. 



1. C. Virginiea, L. Leaves long (3'- 6'), linear, acntish ; petals mostly 

 cmarginate, but sometimes acute. — Damp rich soil in tlie upper districts. 

 March. — Plant 4-10' long. 



2. C. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves short (I' -2'), ovate-lanceolate or 

 oblong, tapering at the base, obtuse; petals obtuse. — Mountains of Nortli 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 

 3-lobed. Capsule 3-cellcd 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-cylindrical; 

 cymes on long peduncles ; petals purple, fugacious. — Rocks, North Carolina 

 and northward. June -Aug. IJ. — Stems 2' - 4' long. Pcdimcles 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, 

 1 -celled, many-seeded. — Low, fleshy herbs, with terete or flat, mostly alternate 

 leaves, and fugacious yellow or purple flowers. 



1 . 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 tlie base, persistent, colored witJiin. Petals none. 

 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, on 

 winged and clasjniig petioles ; flowers pedicelled ; sepals fleshy, lanceolate, mu- 

 cronate, purple within ; stamens numerous. — Sandy or muddy places along 

 the coast, Florida and northward. May - December, y. — Stems diffuse, creep- 

 ing, forming mats which are sometimes 6° in diameter. 



2. S. pentandrum, Ell. Leaves spatulate-obovate, obtuse, on slightly 

 winged and clasping petioles ; flowers sessile ; sepals ovate-lanceolate, stamens 

 5. — Muddy saline coves, Florida to North Carolina. May - November. '^ f 

 — Stems (often erect) and flowers smaller than in the preceding. 



