44 PORTULACACE^E. (PURSLANE FAMILY.) 



Smooth herbs, with a simple stem bearing two opposite leaves, and terminated 

 with a loose raceme of pale rose-colored, veiny flowers. 



1. C. Virginica, L. Leaves long (3' -6'), linear, acutish ; petals mostly 

 emarginate, but sometimes acute. Damp rich soil in the upper districts. 

 March. Plant 4' - 10' long. 



2. C. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves short (l'-2'), ovate-lanceolate or 

 oblong, tapering at the base, obtuse ; petals obtuse. Mountains of North Caro- 

 lina and northward. March and April. Smaller than the last. 



2. TALINUM, Adans. 



Sepals 2, free, deciduous. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens 10-30. Style 

 3-lobed. Capsule 3-celled at the base, 3-valved, many-seeded. Smooth and 

 fleshy herbs, with alternate leaves and cymose flowers. 



1. T. teretifolium, Pursh. Stem thick, leafy; leaves linear-cylindrical ; 

 cymes on long peduncles ; petals purple, fugacious. Rocks, North Carolina 

 and northward. June - Aug. 1J. Stems 2' - 4' long. Peduncles 5' - 8' long. 



3. PORTULACA, Toum. PURSLANE. 



Sepals 2, united and cohering with the ovary below, the upper portion circum- 

 scissile and deciduous with the upper part of the capsule. Petals 4-6, inserted 

 with the 8-20 stamens on the calyx. Style 3-8-parted. Capsule globose, 

 1-celled, many-seeded. Low, fleshy herbs, with terete or flat, mostly alternate 

 leaves, and fugacious yellow or purple flowers. 



1. P. Oleracea, L. Leaves flat, cuneate, naked in the axils ; flowers yel- 

 low ; stamens 10-12. Cultivated ground everywhere. Stem prostrate. 



2. P. pilosa, L. Leaves linear, obtuse, with a tuft of hairs in the axils ; 

 flowers purple ; stamens about 20. Key West, Florida. 



4. 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- 

 cellcd, many-seeded, circumscissile. 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, mu- 

 cronate, purple within ; stamens numerous. Sandy or muddy places along 

 the coast, Florida and northward. May - December, y. Stems diffuse, creep- 

 ing, forming mats which are sometimes 6 in diameter. 



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

 winged and clasping petioles ; flowers sessile ; sepals ovate-lanceolate, stamens 

 5. Muddy saline coves, Florida to North Carolina. May - November. (J) ? 

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



