24 XVII. POliTULACE.E. 



1. PORTULACA, Linu. 



Sepals 2, united at base into a tube attached to the ovary, 

 free above, deciduous. Petals 4 0, free or sliii^litly connate at 

 base. Stamens 8 or many. Ovary halt-inferior, many-ovuled ; 

 style deeply 3-8-fid. Capsule membranous, half-inferior, 

 splitting across (circumscissile) about the middle. — FL Cap. 

 ii.p. 381. 



Small, fleshy, widely-dispersed herbs. P. oleracea is a common weed in 

 gardens throughout the colony. P. qtmdrifida and P. pilosa are rare. 



2. ANACAMPSEROS, Sims. 



Sepals 2, at length deciduous. Petals 5, very fugacious. 

 Stamens 15-20 or more, hypogynous ; filaments distinct, ad- 

 hering to them. Ovary free, many-ovuled ; style filiform, 

 3-fid at the apex. Capsules conical, 1-celled, 3-valved, the 

 valves often 2-partite, and then apparently 6-valved ; seeds 

 many-winged. — Fl. Cap. ii.p. 382. 



A South African genus of 9 species, natives of dry plains to the north and 

 north-east. Yery dwarf plants. Leaves roundish or ovate, or lanceolate, 

 fleshy, sometimes very minute. Stipules membranous, larger than the 

 leaves, much split. Flowers sessile, involucred or on long peduncles, 

 opening only in sunshine. 



3. TALINUM, Juss. 



Sepals 2, ovate, separate, deciduous. Petals 5, ephemeral. 

 Stamens 10-30, inserted with the petals, and often adnate to 

 them. Style filiform, 3-fid at the apex. Capsules 3-valved, 

 1-celled, many-seeded. Seeds wingless, many. — Fl. Cap. ii.p. 

 385. 



Chiefly Asiatic and American. T. Caffrmn, E. and Z., the only South 

 African species, grows in Catfraria. It is a glabrous perennial, ^-1 foot 

 high. Leaves oblong-linear or linear-lanceolate, with revolute margins. 

 Flowers solitary, in the axils of the upper leaves. 



4. PORTULACAIIIA, Jacq. 



Sepals 2, persistent, membranous. Petals 5, persistent, 

 equal, obovate, hypogynous. Stamens 5-7, inserted with the 

 petals ; anthers sliort, often imperfect. Ovary ovate, 3-angled ; 

 style ; stigmas 3, spreading. Fruits 3-quetrous, 3-winged, 

 indehiscent, 1-seeded. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 385. 



Glabrous, fleshy shrubs or small trees, natives of South Africa. Leaves 

 opposite, roundish, flat, deciduous. Peduncles opposite; pedicels 1-flowered, 

 in threes. Flowers very small, rosy. " Speckboom." — 2 species : P. Afra, 

 Jacq., grows in the Karroo and in the Eastern district ; P. iSamaqiiensis, 

 Sond., in Namaqualand. 



