PURSLANE FAMILY 87 



1. M. perfoliata Howell. Miner's Lettuce. Plant T / 2 to \ 

 ft. high, not producing runners. Basal leaves numerous, the 

 earliest linear, the later varying to ovate or orbicular or 

 even kidney-shaped and on petioles 2 to 8 in. long; stem- 

 leaves a single pair united into a disk beneath the raceme of 

 small white or pinkish flowers. Petals % in. long, twice as 

 long as the sepals. — Abundant everywhere except at very 

 high altitudes, passing into many peculiar forms, often much 

 reduced and delicate. 



M. spathulata Howell, is similar to no. 1 but with stem- 

 leaves distinct, or somewhat united on one side, nearly equal- 

 ling the short flower-cluster. — Reported from the Yosemite. 



2. M. chamissdi D. & J. Stems with slender runners 

 which bury themselves and produce bulblets. Leaves op- 

 posite, in several pairs, oblong-spatulate, 1 to 3 in. long 

 including the narrowed base (whole plant much reduced in 

 Alpine forms, sometimes only ^ in. high). Flowers 1 to 9, 

 on slender pedicels which spread or recurve in fruit. Petals 

 pale rose-color or nearly white, 54 m - l° n g> much exceeding 

 the sepals. (M. chamissonis Greene.) — Wet, meadowy or 

 mossy places: Crane Flat; Yosemite Valley; Tuolumne 

 Meadows. 



3. M. fontana L. Water Montia. Stems slender, 2 to 6 

 in. long, often rooting from the joints. Leaves opposite, 

 narrow, Y% to Y\ in. long. Flowers few, the pedicels becom- 

 ing recurved. Petals minute, white, united at base. — Of wide 

 distribution, a diminutive form occurring at Yosemite Falls. 



4. ( M. parvifolia Greene. Stems fine and thread-like, J^ to 

 1 ft. long, often reclining and running. Leaves alternate; 

 the lower obovate or oblanceolate, 2 in. or less long includ- 

 ing the petiole; middle and upper leaves scarce, only % to */> 

 in. long, sessile, linear-lanceolate. Flowers few, racemose, the 

 pedicels becoming reflexed. Petals rose-color to white, % to 

 y 2 in. long, much exceeding the sepals. — On moist rocks 

 around Yosemite Valley, etc. Bulblets are found in the 

 leaf-axils, but drop off in drying. 



5. M. linearis Greene. Stems erect, usually much branched, 

 3 to 6 in. high, annual. Leaves alternate, linear, ^4 to 2 in. 

 long, sessile by a broad base. Flowers in racemes, the 

 pedicels ^2 in. or less long, recurving in fruit. Sepals round- 

 ish, blunt, white-margined. Petals white, unequal. Stamens 

 3. — Known in our district only from near Camp Curry, 

 Yosemite Valley, where it was found in 1911 by Miss H. A. 

 Walker. 



