XYI. CAUYOPnTLLACEjE. 67 



2. Polycarpaea spicata, WigJit, ex Amoit in Ann. Nat. Hist. 

 ser. ], v. 3 (1839) p. 91. A small slender glabrous herb, 2-4 in. high ; 

 branches numerous from the root, terete, filiform. Leaves subfleshj, 

 glaucous, |-1 in. long, petioleci, obovate-spathulate, very much atten- 

 uated at the base, mucronate ; radical leaves rosulate ; cauline leaves in 

 1-3 whorls between the root and the apex ; stijiules lanceolate, very 

 acute, prolonged to a fine point. Flowers in fascicled spikes at the 

 apex of the peduncles ; peduncles filiform, 1 or more from a whorl Of 

 leaves ; bracts scarious. Sepals scarious, lanceolate, acute, with a 

 colored, broad, herbaceous midrib. Petals very small, oblong. Capsules 

 about I as long as sepals. Seeds smooth, shining, brown. PI. B. I. 

 V. 1, p. 246; Boiss. PI. Orient, v. 1, p. 738 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. 

 Nat. v. 11 (1897) p. 125 ; Oliver, PI. Trop. Afr. v. 1, p. 146.— Flowers: 

 Nov.-Feb. 



Sind and Kathiawar (Gujarat) not common. Gujarat : Mangrol and Porbandar 

 (Kathiawar coast), JJ'oodrow '. Sind: seashore, Karachi, I)al:dl\\ Tata district, 

 Woodrotvl ; Landhi, near Karachi, Coo/ic] — Distrib. Abyssinia, Arabia, Egj-pt. 



Ordek XVII. PORTULACACE^. 



Herbs, rarely undershrubs, usually glabrous and more or less succu- 

 lent. Leaves opposite or alternate, entire, often fleshy ; stipules scarious 

 or lacerate, sometimes changed into hairs or 0. Inflorescence various, 

 usually terminal ; flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Sepals fewer than 

 the petals, usually 2, free or adnate to the ovary at the base, much 

 imbricate. Petals 4-5, rarely more, hypogynous or perigynous, free or 

 connate at the base, imbricate, entire, fugacious. Stamens 4-mauy, 

 inserted with the petals and often adnate to them at the base ; filaments 

 filiform ; anthers 2-celled, cells parallel, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary 

 free or semi-inferior, 1-celled ; ovules 2-many on basal funicles or a 

 central column, amphitropous ; style 2-8-fid, branches longitudinally 

 stigmatose. Capsule membranous or crustaceous, circumsciss or de- 

 hiscing by as many valves as there are styles. Seeds many or solitary, 

 compressed ; embryo curved round mealy albumen. — Disthib. Chiefly 

 American ; genera 15 ; species 125. 



Ovary half-adnate 1 . Portulaca. 



Ovary free 2. TALiNUJf. 



1. PORTULACA, Linn. 



Diffuse or ascending, fleshy herbs. Leaves alternate or subopposite ; 

 stipules scarious or reduced to fascicles of hairs or scales (nodal ap^wn- 

 dages) at the nodes, or 0. Flowers terminal, solitary or clustered, sur- 

 rounded by a whorl of leaves. Sepals 2, united at the base into a tube 

 adnate to the ovary, the free part above deciduous. Petals 4-6, distinct 

 or a little united at the base, inserted on the top of the tube of the 

 calyx just where it becomes free from the ovary. Stamens 8 or 

 numerous, inserted at the base of the petals ; filaments subulate or 

 filiform. Ovary ovoid, semi-inferior, 1-celled ; ovules numerous ; style 

 deeply 3-8-fid. Capsule membranous, semi-inferior, the free part 

 circumsciss. Seeds numerous, compressed, reniform, the crustaceous 



r2 



