550 FLORA OF MADRAS. [Sesuvium. 



circumscissile capsule, the axis and placentas persistent. Seeds 

 many, reniforrn ; testa smooth ; embryo annular. 



SESUVIUM PORTULACASTRUM, Linn. ; F. B. I. ii. 659. 



E. and W. Coasts, on sea-shore sand. 



A fleshy prostrate rooting stout- stemmed herb, the sepals 

 purplish, the styles 3, the seeds black, shining, leaves linear- 

 oblanceolate or spathulate. 



Yar. repens, E/ottl. 8. repens, Wt. in Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag, 

 ii. 71 ; W. & A. 361. Leaves much smaller, obovate- 

 spathulate, stems more slender. 



2. Trianthema, Linn. 



Diffuse prostrate branched herbs, glabrous or papillose. Leaves 

 petioled, opposite, unequal, entire, subflesby, the petioles of each 

 pair connected at the base by stipuliform membranes. Flowers 

 small, axillary, sessile or peduncled, solitary or in cymes or 

 clusters; bracts membranous as are the 2.bracteoles. Calyx- 

 tube short or long ; lobes 5, coloured within, mucronate on the 

 back near the tip. Petals 0. Stamens 5, 10 or 15, inserted near 

 the top of the calyx-tube. Ovary free, sessile, usually truncate 

 at apex, 1-2 -celled ; ovules 1 or more in each cell, from a basal 

 placenta ; styles 1 or 2, papillose. Fruit a capsule, circumsciss, 

 the upper part carrying away 1-2 seeds, the lower 2-rnaiiy-seeded. 

 Seeds 1 or more, reniform, rough ; embryo annular. 

 Style 1 . 



Flowers solitary, sessile, sheathed by the base of the petiole ; 

 stamens 10 or 15 ; leaves obovate ; capsule-top mitriform enclosing 

 at least 1 seed, the lower part 3-5-seeded ; seeds with concentric 



muriculate lines -. 1. Portulacastrum. 



Flowers fascicled, nearly sessile, not enclosed in the base of the 

 petiole ; stamens 5 ; leaves oblong or elliptic ; capsule-top an 

 annular depressed cushion enclosing 1 seed, the lower part alsa 



1 -seeded ; seeds with concentric smooth lines 2. triquetra. 



Styles 2 ; flowers in clusters of dichasioid cymes ; stamens 10 or 15 * 

 leaves elliptic or elliptic-oblong ; capsule-top truncate with an 

 annular rim enclosing 2 seeds, the lower part also 2-seeded ; seeds 

 with concentric muriculate lines 3. decandra. 



1. TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM, Linn. T. monogyna, Linn. ; 



F. B. I. ii. 660. T. obcordata, Roxb. ; W. & A. 355 ; Wt. Ic. t. 



288. 



