HYPERICACE^E PORTULACACE.E 371 



mens few to many, often in clusters of 3 or 5, hypogynous: pod 1- to 

 7-celled. 



HYPfiRICUM. ST. JOHN'S-WORT. Figs. 208, 278. 



Mostly branching plants with yellow flowers in cymes: leaves sessile, 

 usually dotted: sepals and petals 5; stamens many, mostly in 3-5 groups. 



H. perforatum, Linn. A common introduced species: stems upright, 

 1-3 ft., branching, 2-edged: leaves linear to oblong, dotted, sessile: flowers 

 about 1 in. in diameter, the petals dotted with black and much exceeding the 

 lanceolate sepals; stamens grouped in 3 sets: capsule 3-celled. Spreads 

 by running shoots from base. 



H. punctatum, Lam. Much like preceding, but leaves more broadly- 

 oblong, sepals more ovate, and the petals often lined, as well as dotted, with 

 black. 



XXIII. PORTULACACE^E. PURSLANE FAMILY. 



Herbs succulent or fleshy, with entire leaves, alternate or oppo- 

 site, and dry stipules: flowers regular but not symmetrical; sepals 2; 

 petals 4-5 or none; stamens equal to number of petals and opposite, 

 or fewer, or more; ovaries free, each 1-celled; style 2-3-cleft, or di- 

 vided, stigmatic on inner surfaces: fruit a 1-celled pod, opening loculi- 

 cidally, or a pyxis, opening by a lid; seeds small, kidney-shaped, few 

 or many. 



A. Stamens more numerous than petals: flowers opening once 



only, in sunshine 1. Portulaca 



AA. Stamens 5 : flowers open for some time 2. Claytonia 



1. PORTULACA. PURSLANE. Fig. 280. 



Low, fleshy annuals, diffuse or ascending: terminal flowers, which open 

 once only, in sunshine; sepals 2, joined at base and partially adherent to 

 ovary; petals 4-6 on calyx, not lasting; stamens 7 to many, on calyx; style 

 3-8-parted. 



P. oleracea, Linn. Common purslane. Pusley. A very common weed. 

 Smooth, fleshy, prostrate: stems cylindrical, reddish: leaves obovate or 

 wedge-form, thick, nearly sessile: flowers small, yellow, sessile, open in 

 morning sunshine. Sometimes used for greens. 



P. grandifldra, Lindl. Rose-moss. Stems erect, 3-6 in., fleshy, smooth 

 or hairy: leaves alternate, cylindrical, K~l m - long: flowers open in morn- 

 ing; very gay colors, white, yellow, reds, 1-2 in. wide. South America. 

 Gardens. 



2. CLAYTONIA. SPRING BEAUTY. 



Low, glabrous, perennial herbs, from small tubers: flowers lasting some 

 time ; sepals 2 ; petals 5, distinct or slightly united ; stamens 5, 1 on base 

 of each petal; style 3-lobed; ovary 1-celled: capsule 3-valved, few-seeded: 



