44 I'OUTULACAC.CE. (I'UUSLANE 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 mostly 

 emargiuate, but sometimes acute. — Damp rich soil in the upper districts. 

 Marck — Plant 4' - 10' long. 



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

 oblong, tapering at the base, obtuse; petals obtuse. — Mountains of North Caro- 

 lina and nortiiward. j\larch and April. — Smaller than the last. 



2. TALINUM, Adans. 



Sepals 2, free, deciduous. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens 10-30. Style 

 3-lobed. Ca])sulc 3-cclled at the base, 3-valved, many-seeded. — Smooth and 

 Ik'sliy licrbs, with alternate leaves and cymose flowers. 



1. T. teretifolium, Pursh. Stem thick, leafy; leaves linear-cylindrical ; 



cymes on lung ixduncles ; petals purple, fugacious. — Kocks, North Carolina 

 and nortiiward. June -Aug. IJ. — Stems 2' - 4' long. Peduncles 5' -8' long. 



3. PORTULACA, Toum. 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 teiclc or flat, mostly alternate 

 leaves, and fugacious yellow or purple flowers. 



1. P. olcracea, L. Leaves flat, cuneate, naked in the axils ; flowers yel- 

 low ; stamens 10-12. — Cultivated ground every whcrc. — 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 none. 

 Stamens .5, or numerous, inserted on the calyx. Styles 3-5. Capsule 3-5- 

 cclled, many-seeded, circumscissile. — Prostrate and fleshy maritime plant.s, 

 with nearly opjiosite and entire leaves, and axillaiy purplish flowers. 



1 S. portulacastrum, L. Leaves lanceolate and oblong, acute, on 

 winged and clasping petioles ; flowers j)edicellcd ; sepals fleshy, lanceolate, mu- 

 cronato, purple within ; stamens numerous. — Sandy or mmlily places along 

 the coast, Florida and noithward. May- December, y. — Stems diff"usc, ciTcp- 

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



2. S. pentandrum, Kll. Lc.-xves sprunlate-obovatc. obtuse, on slightly 

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

 5. — Muddy smHiic coves, Floriila to North Carolina. May - November. Q) ' 

 — .'^ii'm^ (uli'H erect) and flowers smaller iban in the preceding. 



