DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 71 



n. PORTULACA, Tourn. 



Annual ; stems low, diffuse, and spreading, fleshy. Leaves 

 entire, mostly alternate. Flowers terminal. Sepals 2, united 

 at the base and coherent with the ovary. Petals usually 5, in- 

 serted on the calyx, quickly withering. Stamens 8-20, inserted 

 on the calyx. Style 3-8-parted. Capsule globose, opening 

 by the upper portion coming off like a lid, 1-celled, many- 

 seeded.* 



1. P. oleracea, L. Purslane. Stems prostrate, diffuse, fleshy. 

 Leaves alternate, flat, obovate, or wedge-shaped. Flowers solitary, 

 sessile, opening in bright sunshine in the morning, and usually 

 withering before noon. Sepals broad, acute. Petals yellow. Sta- 

 mens 10-12. Capsule very-many-seeded, seeds small, wrinkled. A 

 common garden weed.* 



2. P. grandiflora, Hook. Gardex Portulaca. Stems fleshy, 

 erect, or ascending, densely hairy or nearly smooth, 3-6 in. long. 

 Leaves alternate, cylindrical, fleshy, ^-1 in. long. Flowers 1-2 in. 

 wide, white, yellow, or red, showy, opening only in sunlight. Com- 

 mon in cultivation and often growing spontaneously.* 



30. CARYOPHYLLACE^. Pink Family. 



Herbs sometimes woody below, with thickened nodes. 

 Leaves opposite, entire ; stipules small and dry or none. 

 Sepals 4-5. Petals 4-5 (rarely 0), usually hypogynous. Sta- 

 mens usually 8-10, hypogynous or perigynous. Styles 2-5 

 (rarely 1). Ovules 2-many. Fruit a capsule. 



Sepals distinct or nearly so. Petals (if any) ivithout claws. Capsule 

 several— many-seeded. 



Styles usually 3. Capsule ovoid. Stellaria, I. 



Styles 5 or ^. Capsule cylindrical. Cerastium, II. 



B. 



Sepals united into an urn-shaped tube. Petals none. Fruit 1-seeded. 



Scleranthus, III. 



