CURVEMBRYJE. 373 



Order 6. Portulacaceae (Portulacas). The flowers are 

 regular (except Montia), hypogynous (except Portulaca) and . 

 The diagram which applies to the majority of genera is that in 

 Fig. 367, but with all the 5 stamens completely developed: it may 

 be considered as the Chenopodiaceous diagram with the addition 

 of 2 bracteoles in the median line (m-n, these by some are con- 

 sidered as sepals), and with a petaloid perianth (usually desig- 

 nated "corolla"). The "petals" fall off very quickly, and are 

 sometimes wanting. Most frequently 5 stamens, situated oppo- 

 site the " petals," but in other genera the number varies ; Montia 

 has only 3 stamens (by suppression of the two anterior and 

 lateral, Fig. 367), others again have more than 5, some a large 

 and indefinite number. This may be explained partly by the 

 appearance of a second whorl of stamens alternating with the 

 first, and partly by the splitting (dedoublement) of the stamens. 

 Gynceceum most frequently tricarpellate, ovary unilocular with 

 1-several basal ovules (sometimes on a 

 branched placenta, as in certain Caryo- 

 phyllacece). The fruit is a capsule, more 

 rarely a nut. The majority are annual 

 herbaceous plants with scattered, entire 

 leaves, often fleshy and smooth, with or 

 without rudimentary stipules (dry, mern- 



J * FlG - 367. Montt'a. 



branous, modified into hairs). Inflorescence Diagram of flower 



cymose. 



Portulaca (Portulaca) : flower, epigynous or semi-epigynous ; 

 fruit, a pyxidium. The stamens vary in number, and are most 

 frequently placed in groups (in consequence of splitting) opposite 

 the petals. Montia : the corolla is slightly gamopetalous, but 

 cleft on the posterior side (Fig. 367), and as a consequence of the 

 larger size of the lateral petals, slightly zygomorphic ; 3 stamens. 

 Calandrinia ; Talinum ; Anacampseros ; Claytonia. 



125 species ; mostly in warm and temperate countries, especially the arid parts 

 of S. Am. and the Cape. Montia fontana (Blinks) is a native plant. Portulaca 

 oleracea is cultivated as a pot-herb in the south of Europe. A few species of 

 Portulaca and Calandrinia are ornamental plants. 



Order 7. Nyctaginiaceae. The characteristic feature of this 

 order is the single, regular, united, and often petaloid perianth, the 

 lower part of which generally persists after flowering and em- 

 braces the fruit as a false pericarp. The upper portion is most 



