38 poktulacace.t:. (i'ikslane family.) 



2. H. ericoides, L. Iloary-pubesccnt ; Hteiu erect, 6' high ; leaves sub- 

 ulate, ert-it, or lousflv iiiil>riuateil ; jieiiuiu-les aliniit as long as the Howers; 

 sepals barely acute ; capsule pubescent, mostly 3-seedecl. — Coast of North 

 Carolina, and nnrtliward. May. 



3. H. tomentosa, Nutt. Tumeutose, intricately branched, C high ; 

 leaves minute, ovate-lanceolate, closely iniliricated ; tiowers nearly sessile ; 

 sepals obtuse, the outer oues minute; capsule smoothish, mostly 1-seeded. — 

 Coast of J^'orth Carolina, aud northward. May. , 



Order 15. POKTULACACE^. (Purslane Family.) 



Succulent plants, with entire leaves and regular hypogynou.s or 

 perigynous flowers. Sepals 2-5. Petals 3 - 6, inibricat*?d in the bud, 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens as many as the petals and opposite 

 them, or indefinite. Styles 3-6, mostly united below, stigniatic 

 along the inside. Capsule 1 - 5-celled, few - many-seeded. Seeds 

 campylotropous, erect from the base of the cell, or attached to a cen- 

 tral i^laceuta. Embryo slender, curved around mealy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



1. CLAYTONIA. Petals and stamens .I. Capsule .'Vvalved, 3 - 6-seeded. 



2. TALINUM. Petals 5. Stamens 10-30. Capsule 3-valved, many-seeded. 



3. PORTULAC A. Petals 5 - G. Stamens 8 - 20. Capsule circumscissile. 



1. CLAYTONIA, L. Si'iaxG-BEArxY. 



Sepals 2, free, per.sistent. I'etals 5, hypogynous. Stamens 5, inserted on 

 the claws of the petals. Style 3-cleft. Capsule 1-celled, 3-valved, 3 - 6-seeded. 

 — Smooth herbs, with a simple stem bearing two opposite leaves and ter- 

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

 tuberous. 



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

 emarginate, l)Ut sometimes acute. — Damp rich soil in the upper districts. 

 Marcli. — riant 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 

 Carolina. March - April. — Smaller than the last. 



2. TALINUM, Adans. 



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

 3-lobed. Capsule 3-celled at the base, 3-valved, man3'-seeded. — Smooth and 

 fleshy lierlis, with alternate leaves and cymose flowers. 



1. T. teretifolium, Tursh. Stemthick, leafy ; leaves linear-cylindrical; 

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

 June - August, y. — Stems 2' - 4' long. Peduncles 5' - 8' long. 



