Galenia.] lxvii. ficoideje (oliver). 685 



2-5-celled; styles as many as cells, distinct, divaricate, papillose; 

 ovules solitary (or in pairs). Capsule membranous, dehiscing" loculi- 

 cidally in as many valves as cells, — Herbs or low shrubs, glabrous 

 papillose tomentose or scaly. Leaves alternate or opposite, entire, 

 veinless, exstipulate. Flowers small, sessile or pedicellate, axillary or 

 in paniculate cymes. 



A genus of 15-20 species, confined to the Cape, with the following exception. 



1. G. africana, Linn. Sp. PI. 515. Var. An erect or diffuse diva- 

 ricately rigidly branched giabrous or minutely papillose shrub, reaching 

 1—2 ft. Leaves opposite and often fascicled in the axils, narrowly oval 

 or oblanceolate, apex often folded and reflexed, narrowed below into 

 the petiole; with petiole J-lJin. long, xq— J in. broad. Flowers about 

 1 line broad, sessile in terminal divaricate dichotomous paniculate 

 bracteate cymes. Bracteoles fleshy, at base of perianth. Perianth- 

 lobes 4, outer ovate-oblong, thickened dorsally at apex. Styles 2, 

 divaricate. 



Lower Guinea. Mossamedes, Benguela, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



With rather broader leaves than the common Cape form of this species ; but Dr. 

 Sonder (Flora Capensis, ii. 478) describes a var. halimifolia, which is probably 

 identical. 



5. SESUVIUM, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 855. 



Calyx-tube turbinate, short, lobes 5. Petals 0. Stamens (5 or) oo, 

 inserted in mouth of calyx-tube, free or filaments connate at base. 

 Ovary free, 2-3-5-celled j styles free or nearly so, as many as cells. 

 Capsule membranous, 3-5-celled, circumsciss ; seeds few or many, ro- 

 tundate-reniform, compressed, funiculate; embryo annulate. — Herbs 

 or low shrubs, erect or prostrate, branching, succulent. Leaves oppo- 

 site, fleshy, usually narrow, exstipulate; petioles sometimes mem- 

 branous-margined, sheathing. Flowers axillary, sessile or pedunculate, 

 solitary or variously arranged, usually coloured. 



A small littoral genus, generally diffused in the Tropics. 



Styles 3-5. 



Glabrous. Leaves linear-spathulate to obovate 1. JS. Portulacastrum. 



Distinctly papillose or vesicular. 



Leaves linear re volute 2. S. csngense. 



Leaves terete, 1-furrowed above 3. S. crystallinum. 



Styles 2. Leaves oval or linear . 4. S. digynum. 



1. S. Portulacastrum, Linn. ; DC. Prod. iii. 453. A diffuse pro- 

 cumbent or prostrate and rooting succulent glabrous herb often wholly 

 blood-red or purple. Leaves succulent, from linear slightly dilated up- 

 wards to oblanceolate or obovate-oblong, much narrowed at base, 

 usually from J-2 in. in length ; petioles sheathing, more or less mem- 

 branous-margined. Flowers axillary, purplish or rose, usually on pe- 

 duncles equalling or shorter rarely much longer than the flower. 

 Calyx deeply 5-lobed, lobes ovate-lanceolate, obtuse with a mucro just 

 below the apex behind. Stamens indefinite, free or nearly so. Ovary 



