172 



FICOIDE.E. 



ORDER 66. FICOIDE^E. 



Herbs or shrubs, with simple exstipulate succulent leaves, polypeta- 

 ious or apetalous flowers, capsular 2 -several-celled fruit, with central 

 placentae, and curved or annular embryo enclosing mealy albumen. - 

 A small order, represented here by two tribes or suborders. 



Synopsis. 



TRIBE I. SESUVJE^i!. Calyx 5-parted, free, or nearly so, from the 1-5-celled ovary. 

 Corolla none. Stamens inserted on the calyx. Capsule circuuiscissile. Seaside 

 plants, with nearly opposite leaves, and small axillary flowers. 



1. CYPSELEA Sepals obtuse. Stamens 2 - 3. Style 2-parted. Capsule 1 -celled. 



2. TRIANTHEMA. Sepals mucronate. Stamens 5. Style entire. Capsule 1 - 2-celled. 



3. SESUVIUM. Sepals mucronate. Stamens 5 or more. Styles 3-5. Capsule 3- 5-celled. 



TRIBE II. MOLLUGINE^. Calyx 5-sepalled. Corolla none. Stamens hypogy- 

 nous. Capsule valvate. Prostrate annual herbs, with whorled leaves, and axillary 

 flowers. 



4. MOLLUGO. Capsule 3-valved, 3-celled. Sepals white. 



1. CYPSELEA, Turp. 



Calyx 5-parted. Petals none. Stamens 1-3, alternate with the calyx 

 lobes. Stvles 2. Capsule circumscissile. 



1. C. Irumifusa, Turp. Small, annual, decumbent, glabrous, branching ; 



leaves nearly opposite, obovate or oval, dotted (l.V'-2" long), the petiole 

 dilated anil with membranous margins at the base; stipules laciniate ; flowers 

 axillary, small, greenish. South Florida (Blodyett). 



2. TRIANTHEMA, Sauvages. 



Sepals 3. Stigmas 1 or 2. Capsule 1- or 2-celled, 1- or few-seeded. Oth- 

 erwise, with the characters and habit of Sesuvium. 



1. T. monogyna, L. Perennial; stem dichotomous, diffuse (2 -3 

 long) ; leaves opposite, obovate, subconnate by their dilated petioles; flowers 

 axillary, sessile, purple within ; stamens 5 ; stigma single; capsule 1 -celled, 

 4-8-see.ded. Keys of South Florida (Garher, Ciirtlss). 



3. SESUVIUM, L. SEA PURSLANE. 



Sepals 5, free, united at the base, persistent, colored within. Petals none. 

 Stamens 5, or numerous, inserted on the calyx. Styles 3-5. Capsule 3- 5- 

 celh-d. many-seeded, circnmscissile. Prostrate and fleshy maritime plants 

 with nearly opposite and entire leaves, and axillary purplish flowers. 



1. S. portulacastrum, L. Leaves lanceolate and oblong, acute, on 

 winged and clasping petioles ; flowers pedicelled ; sepals fleshy, lanceolate, 

 mucronate, purple within ; stamens numerous. Sandy or muddy places 

 along the coast. May -Dec. 2/ Steins diffuse, creeping. 



2. S. pentandrum, Kll. Leaves spatulate-obovate, obtuse, on slightly 

 winged and clasping petioles; flowers sessile; sepals ovate-lanceolate; sta- 

 mens 5. Muddy saline coves, Florida to North Carolina. May -Nov. 

 (T)? Stems (often erect) and flowers smaller than in the preceding. 



