538 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



or absent, perigynous. Stamens somewhat hypogynous, either 

 equal in number to the sepals and opposite to them, or more 

 numerous, or rarely fewer. Ovary superior, 1 or 3-celled ; styles 

 2 — 5. Fruit dry, 1 or 3-celled, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds 

 either numerous upon a free central placenta, or solitary on a 

 long funiculus arising from the base of the fruit; albumen fari- 

 naceous ; embryo curved. 



Distribution, ^"c. — Natives chiefly of barren pljices in the south 

 of Europe and the north of Africa. Examples of the Genera : — 

 Herniaria, Spergula. There are about 100 species. 



Properties and Uses. ■ — Slightly astringent, but none of the 

 plants are of any particular importance. 



Natural Order 92. PoRTULACACEiE. — The Purslane Order. — 

 Character. — Succulent herbs or shrubs, with entire exstipulate 

 leaves. Flowers unsymmetrical. Sepals 2, coherent at the base. 

 Petals usually 5, distinct or united. Stamens perigynous or 

 hypogynous, varying in number, sometimes opposite to the petals ; 

 filaments distinct ; anthers 2-celled, versatile. Ovary superior, 

 or rarely partially adherent. Fruit capsular, usually dehiscing 

 transversely, or by valves ; sometimes indehiscent ; placenta 

 free central. Seeds numerous or solitary ; embryo curved round 

 farinaceous albumen. 



Distribzition, ^'c. — Natives of waste dry places in various parts 

 of the world, but chiefly at the Cape of Good Hope and in South 

 America. Examples of the Genera: — Portulaca, Claytonia, Mon- 

 tia. There are about 190 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The fleshy root of Claytonia tuberosa is 

 edible. Portidaca oleracea has been used from the earliest times 

 as a pot-herb, and in salads. It possesses cooling and antiscor- 

 butic properties. Many of the plants have large showy flowers. 



Natural Order 93. MESEMBRYACEiE or FicoiDEiE. — The Ice- 

 Plant or Fig-Marigold Order. — C h a r a c t e r. — Succulent herbs or 

 shrubs, with opposite or alternate, simple leaves, which are ex- 

 stipulate. Calyx 3 — 8-partite, either free or partially adherent to 

 the ovary. Petals either numerous and showy, or altogether absent. 

 Stamens perigynous, distinct, numerous or definite. Ovary inferior 

 or nearly superior, usually many-celled, rarely 1-celled ; placentas 

 axile, free central or parietal ; styles and stigmas as many as the 

 cells of the ovary, distinct ; ovides usually numerous, or rarely 

 solitary, amphitropal or anatropal. Fruit usually a many-celled 

 capsule, or rarely 1-celled, dehiscing in a stellate or circumscissile 

 manner at the apex, or splitting at the base ; or woody and inde- 

 hiscent. Seeds few or numerous, or rarely solitai'j ; embryo curved 

 or spiral, on the outside of mealy albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Succulent herbs or shrubs, with simple exstipulate 

 leaves. Sepals definite, generally more or less united to the ovary. 

 Petals very numerous, or absent. Stamens perigynous. Ovary 

 inferior or nearly superior ; styles distinct ; placentas axile, free 



