n8 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



2. PEPLIS, L. 



Flowers minute, axillary ; petals minute, purplish, or o. 

 P. Portula, L., Water-Purslane ; stem prostrate, leaves 

 obovate, obtuse ; wet places or under water, local. 



Order XXXV. TAMARISCINE^. 



Shrubs or small trees, with small flowers in dense 

 solitary or panicled spikes ; sepals and petals usually 5 ; 

 stamens usually IO; ovary free, i-celled; styles 2-5; 

 seed-vessel a 2-5 -celled capsule. A very small order; 

 not alpine. 



i. MYRICARIA, Desv. 



Calyx 5-lobed ; stamens 10, springing from beneath the 

 ovary. 



M. germanica, Desv. ; flowers pink, in simple racemes, 

 leaves small, linear, glaucous ; sandy shores and beds of 

 streams ; Switzerland, Dauphiny, Pyrenees, not common. 



Order XXXVI. ONAGRACE^E. 



Flowers usually regular ; calyx 2-4-lobed ; petals 2-4 ; 

 stamens 2-8 ; ovary usually 4-celled, with axile placenta- 

 tion, inferior ; seed-vessel usually a 4-celled capsule. A 

 large order, chiefly of the temperate regions. 



i. EPILOBIUM, L. 



Flowers solitary, axillary, or in terminal spikes, pink ; 

 calyx-limb 4-lobed; petals 4; stamens 8; ovary elon- 



