Carpet-weed Family 139 



on short stout pedicels. Calyx-tube turbinate, free from 

 the ovary, the lobes 5, often purplish within, oblong, 

 obtuse. Petals none. Stamens 5-many ; filaments 

 united at the base into sets. Ovary 3 5-celled, with as 

 many styles. Capsule membranous, ovate-oblong, cir- 

 cumscissile at the middle. Seeds many, minute, smooth. 



1. S. sessile Pers. Stems prostrate, much branched, 1-3 dm. 

 long or more; leaves broadly sp&tulate or linear, 1-4 cm. long; 

 flowers sessile or nearly so, 6-10 mm. long; sepals ovate-lance- 

 olate, scarious-rnargined, 6 mm. long; filaments united below 

 the middle, red. 



Occasional in low saline places. June-September. 



3. MESEMBBIANTHEMUM L. ICE-PLANT. 



Ours very fleshy maritime herbs, with opposite exstip- 

 ulate leaves. Flowers large and showy, terminal and 

 in the forks of the branches. Calyx-tube adnate to the 

 ovary, the lobes 5, unequal, herbaceous. Petals numer- 

 ous, linear. Stamens very numerous, with slender fila- 

 ments, inserted with the petals on the tube of the calyx. 

 Capsule 4-20-celled, with as many styles, dehiscing at 

 the depressed summit by stellate valves. Seeds minute, 

 many. 



1. M. aequilaterale Haw. Stems prostrate, often forming 

 extensive mats; leaves 3-angled, 4-6 cm. long, smooth; flowers 

 solitary, sessile or nearly so, about 3 cm. broad; calyx- tube tur- 

 binate, 2-4 cm. long; the larger foliaceous lobes nearly as long; 

 petals red ; styles 6-10. 



Common along the seashore. 



2. M. crystallinum L. Annual or biennial, prostrate and 

 widely branching, the herbage covered with white glistening pa- 

 pillae; leaves flat, fleshy, clasping, broadly ovate or spatulate, 

 undulate; flowers axillary sessile or nearly go, white or pink; 

 calyx-tube campanulate, 6-10 mm. long, lobes ovate, retuse or 

 acute ; stigmas 5. 



Common in low saline places near the coast. May-June. 



