50 POKTULACACEAE. 



ing (in our species). Androecium of 4 or 5 hypogj^nous or perigynous 

 stamens, or sometimes fewer or more nmnerous. Gynoecium of 2-several 

 united carpels. Ovary superior or partly inferior. Fruit a capsule or 

 pyxis, or baccate or nut-like. 



Leaves without stipules : ovary 3-5-celled. 1. Sesdvicm. 



Leaves with stipules : ovary 1- or 2-celled. 2. Triaxthema. 



1. SESUVIUM L. Annual or perennial succulent herbs, or partially 

 woody plants. Leaves opposite: blades narrow. Sepals 5, petaloid, each 

 horned at the apex. Stamens 1-many, sometimes grouped. 



Stamens numerous : plants perennial. 1. S. Portulacastrum. 



Stamens 5 : plants annual. 2. S. maritimum. 



■fd I 1. S. Portulacastrum L. Plants usually sparingly branched, the branches 

 often 1-2 m. long: leaf -blades spatulate to oblaneeolate or rarely oblong, 

 1.5-4 cm. long: flowers short pedicelled: sepals 8-10 mm. long: capsule 9-10 

 mm. long. — Coastal sand-dunes and shores, U. S. keys, U. keys, L. keys, L. S. 

 keys. — [E. K.] — (Ber., Bah., Cuba, Ant.) — Sea-purslane. 



2. S. maritimum (Walt.) B.S.P. Plants copiously branched, 0.5-4 dm. long: 

 leaf -blades spatulate to obovate, 1-2.5 cm. long: flowers sessile: sepals 3-4 mm. 

 long: capsules about 5 mm. long. — Sandy shores and waste grounds, L. keys. — 

 (Bah., Cuba.) — Sea-purslane. 



2. TRIANTHEMA L. Annual or perennial herbs or woody plants. 

 Leaves opposite: blades broad. Sepals 5, petaloid, each horned at the tip. 

 Stamens 5-10. Stigma lateral on the style. Ovules few. 



•'/>'l. T. Portulacastrum L. Plants diffusely branched at the base, the branches 

 often 5-10 dm. long: leaf-blades suborbicular to obovate, 0.5-2 cm. long: sepals 

 ovate-lanceolate to oblong, becoming 4-5 mm. long, purple within: capsules 

 3.5-5 mm. long. — Hammocks and sandy shores, U. keys, L. keys. — (Ant.) 



•s ,. Family 9. PORTULACACEAE. Purslane Family. 



Herbs, mostly fleshy or succulent, or partially woody. Leaves alter- 

 nate or opiDosite: blades entire. Flowers perfect, regular. Calyx of 2 

 sepals. Corolla of 4 or 5, or rarely more, fugaceous petals. Androecium 

 of as many stamens as there are petals, or fewer or more. Gynoecium of 

 3 or more united earj^els. Ovary superior or inferior, 1-celled, Fruit a 

 capsule or pyxis. 



1. PORTULACA [Tourn.] L. Succulent herbs. Leaves flat or terete. 

 Flowers erect. Sepals 2, deciduous. Petals 4-6. Style short; stigmas 3-8, 

 slender. — Purslane. 



Leaves hairy in the axils : blades terete. 



Seeds black, papillose: corolla pink or purple. I. P.pilosa. 



Seeds brown, rugulose : corolla yellow. 2. P. phnrosperma. 



Leaves glabrous in the axils ; blades flat : corolla yellow. 3. P. oleracca. 



7 (^^1. P. pilosa L. Plants erect or diffuse, the branches villous: leaf-blades 

 terete, 1-2 cm. long: petals pink or purple, 4-6 mm. long: capsules mostly 

 4-5 mm. long. — Cultivated grounds and roadsides, Key West. — [E. K.] — 

 (Cuba, A7it.) 



2. P. phaeosperma Urban. Plants diffusely branched, the young parts pubes- 

 cent: leaves relatively few; blades nearly terete, 4-13 mm. long: flowers mostly 

 solitary: corolla yellow: capsules 3-4 mm. long: seeds over 0.5 mm. broad, 

 brown. — Pinelands, and sandy shores, and hammocks, U. keys, L. keys. — [E. K.] 

 — (Bah., Cuba, Ant.) 



