PORTULACACEJE. f PURSLANE FAMILY.) 43 



5-15-celled. Ovules numerous, fixed to a central column. Stigma large, 

 radiate-peltate. Capsule coriaceous, globose-angled, 5-15-celled; the valves 

 separating from the central column at maturity. Seeds numerous, ovate. Par- 

 asitical tropical trees, with thick, opposite, entire and shining leaves, and chiefly 

 polygamous, cymose, showy flowers. 



1. C. flava, L. Leaves short-stalked, obovate, obtuse or emarginate, finely 

 veined ; flowers polygamous, single or by threes, on short axillary and terminal 

 peduncles ; sepals rounded ; petals 4, oval, thick, yellow and unequal ; stamens 

 short and thick; stigma about 12-rayed; capsule pear-shaped, 12-seeded, the 

 seeds imbedded in soft pulp. South Florida. A small tree. 



2. CANELLA, P. Brown. 



Sepals 3, rounded, concave, imbricated in the bud, persistent. Petals 5, hy- 

 pogynous, oblong, convolute in the bud, deciduous. Stamens united into a 

 tube. Anthers 15 (21 Endl), adnate, linear. Ovary 3-celled. Style cylindri- 

 cal. Stigmas 3. Berry globose, 1 -3-celled, mostly 2-seeded. Seeds globose- 

 reniform. Embryo minute, in fleshy albumen. A large tree. Leaves alter- 

 nate, near the ends of the branches, obovate, emarginate, glabrous, on short 

 petioles. Racemes compound, shorter than the leaves, terminal. Pedicels 1- 

 flowered. Flowers small, purple. (The proper place of this genus is undeter- 

 mined, but it has been referred to this order. ) 



1. C. alba, Swartz. South Florida. August. Tree aromatic. Leaves 

 2' long. Berry black. 



ORDER 20. PORTUL,ACACEy"E. (PURSLANE FAMILY.) 



Succulent plants, with entire leaves and regular hypogynous or peri- 

 gynous flowers. Sepals 2 - 5. Petals 3-6, imbricated in the bud, some- 

 times wanting. Stamens as many as the petals and opposite them, or 

 indefinite. Styles 3 -6, mostly united below, stigmatic along the inside. 

 Capsule 1 - 5-celled, few - many-seeded. Seeds campylotropous, erect 

 from the base of the cell, or attached to a central placenta. Embryo slen- 

 der, curved around mealy albumen.. 



Synopsis. 



* Sepals 2. Petals 5 -6. 



1. CLAYTONIA. Petals and stamens 5. Capsule 3-valved, 3- 6-seeded. 



2. TALINUM. Petals 5. Stamens 10 - 30. Capsule 3-valved, many-seeded. 

 3 PORTULACA. Petals 5 -6. Stamens 8 -20. Capsule circumscissile. 



* * Sepals 5. Petals none. 

 4. SESUVIUM. Stamens 5 -60, inserted on the calyx. Capsule circumscisgile. 



1. CLAYTONIA, L. SPRING-BEAUTY. 



Sepals 2, free, persistent. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens 5, inserted on the 

 claws of the petals. Style 3-cleft. Capsule 1 -celled, 3-valvcd, 3 -6-seeded. 



