70 - FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 
MOLLUGO, L. 
Low branching annuals. Sepals 5, greenish outside, white 
inside. Corolla wanting. Stamens 5, alternate with the 
sepals, or 3, alternate with the cells of the ovary. Capsule 
5-celled, many-seeded. 
1. M. verticillata, L. CARPET-wEED. Stems branching and 
forming radiating patches. Leaves clustered in apparent whorls at 
the joints of the stem, spatulate. Flowers in little sessile umbels at 
the joints. Stamens commonly 3. A troublesome weed in sandy 
soil and common on sandy beaches and river banks. 
29. PORTULACACEZ. PurRSLANE FAMILY. 
Generally herbs. Leaves opposite or alternate, entire; 
stipules dry and membranaceous. Sepals 2. Petals 4 or 
more, distinct or united below. Stamens 4 or more, free or 
adnate to the petals. Ovary usually free, 1-celled; style 
simple or 3-cleft; ovules 2-many. Capsule opening trans- 
versely with a lid, or 2—3-valved. 
I. CLAYTONIA, Gronov. 
Perennial; stem simple, smooth, erect, 4-10 in. high. 
Leaves 2, opposite, smooth, succulent. Flowers in a terminal 
raceme. Sepals 2, ovate, persistent. Petals 5, sometimes 
coherent at the base. Stamens 5, inserted on the base of 
the petals. Style 3-cleft, ovary 1-celled, 5-6-seeded. 
1. C. virginica, L. Sprina Beauty. Stem simple, erect from a 
deep, tuberous root. The 2 stem-leaves narrowly elliptical, 3-6 in. 
long, smooth, fleshy; basal leaves occasionally produced. Flowers 
on short pedicels. Petals white or pink, with darker veins, 1—2 in. 
long, notched. Capsule shorter than the persistent sepals. Common 
in rich woods.* 
2. C. caroliniana, Michx. NorTHERN SprinG Beauty. Flowers 
fewer, smaller, and whiter than No. 1, fragrant. Leaves 1-2 in. 
long, ovate-lanceolate or spatulate, pretty distinctly petioled. Moist 
woods, especially N. 
