130 CARYOPH YLLACEAE. 



sistent. Petals usually 5, rarely 3 or wanting, more 

 or less united at base, usually slightly unequal. Stamens 

 3-5, inserted on the corolla opposite the lobes. Ovary 

 3-ovuled. Capsule 3-valyed, 3-seeded. 



1. M. perfoliata (Donn) Howell. Scapose stems 10-30 cm. high; 

 leaves long petioled, oblanceolate to ovate or deltoid; involucral 

 bracts completely joined, forming a perfoliate disk; flowers in short 

 or rather long peduncled racemes; sepals ovate, 2-3 mm. long; petals 

 3-5 mm, long, white or rose color; seeds lenticular, black and shin- 

 ing, minutely granular. {Claytonia perfoliata Donn.) 



Common in moist shady places below 4000 feet altitude. Febru- 

 ary-May. 



2. M. spathulata (Dougl.) Howell. Low and rather dense, 3- 

 10 cm. high; -radical leaves linear or spatulate-linear, little exceeded 

 by the flowering stems; cauline leaves from spatulate-ovate to 

 lanceolate, almost distinct or connate upon one side into an ob- 

 cordate or 2-lobed involucre; inflorescence 1-2 cm. long; flowers 

 small; petals 2-4 mm, long; seeds black, shining, granulated. ( Clay- 

 tonia spathulata Dougl.) 



Kings Canyon, Davidson. May. 



4. PORTULACA L. Purslane. 



Low succulent prostrate or ascending herbs with alter- 

 nate or opposite leaves and scarious or setaceous stipules. 

 Flowers axillary or terminal, ephemeral, (ours) yellow. 

 Sepals 2, coherent at the base into a tube and adnate to 

 the base of the ovary, the free upper portion at length 

 deciduous. Petals 4-6. Stamens 4-20, perigynous with 

 the petals. Style 1, deeply 3-8-cleft. Capsule circum- 

 scissile near the middle, many-seeded. 



1. P. oleracea L. Stems prostrate, 1-5 dm. long; leaves fleshy, 

 glabrous, obovate to spatulate, rounded at the apex; flowers sessile, 

 axillary; stipules minute; sepals acute, carinate; petals yellow, 2-4 

 mm. long; stigmas 5; capsule 6-10 mm. long; seeds dull black, finely 

 tuberculate. 



Cultivated grounds and waste places. May-August. 



Family 32. CARYOPHYLLACEAE. Pink Family. 



Annual or perennial herbs, rarely lignescent at base, 

 with nodose stems and opposite entire leaves. Flowers 

 regular, perfect or rarely unisexual by abortion. Sepals 

 4-5, united into a tube or distinct. Petals as many (or 

 none), often emarginate- toothed or deeply bifid. Sta- 



