64 PORTULACACE^E. (PURSLANE FAMILY.) 



Synopsis. ' 



* Sepals 5. Petals none. Pod 3-5-celIed, opening by a lid. 

 L SESUVIUM. Stamens 5 -60, inserted on the free calyx. 



* * Sepals 2. Petals 5. Pod 1-celled. 



2. PORTULAC A. Stamens 7 - 20, on the partly adherent calyx. Pod opening by a lid. 

 8. TALINUM. Stamens more numerous than the petals, hypogynous. Pod many-seeded. 

 4. CLAYTONIA. Stamens as many as the hypogynous petals, and attached to their base. Pod 

 3-6-seeded. 



1. SESIJVIUUI, L. SEA PURSLANE. 



Calyx 5-parted, purplish inside, persistent, free. Petals none. Stamens 5 - 

 60, inserted on the calyx. Styles 3 - 5, separate. Pod 3 - 5-celled, many-seed- 

 ed, opening transversely (circumscissile), the upper part falling off as a lid. 

 Prostrate maritime herbs, with succulent stems and (opposite) leaves, and axil- 

 lary or terminal flowers. (An unexplained name.) 



1. S. Portulacastrum, L. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, flattish; flow- 

 ers sessile or short-peduncled ; stamens many, ty Coast of New Jersey and 

 southward. July - Sept. 



2. PORTUL.ACA, Tourn. PURSLANE. 



Calyx 2-cleft ; the tube cohering with the ovary below. Petals 5, rarely 6, 

 with the 7-20 stamens inserted on the calyx, fugacious. Style mostly 3 -8- 

 parted. Pod 1-celled, globular, many-seeded, opening transversely, the upper 

 part (with the upper part of the calyx) separating like a lid. Fleshy annuals, 

 with scattered leaves. (An old Latin name, of unknown meaning.) 



1. P. OLERACEA, L. (COMMON PURSLANE.) Prostrate, very smooth; 

 leaves obovate or wedge-form; flowers sessile (opening only in sunny morn- 

 ings); sepals keeled; petals pale yellow; stamens 7-12; style deeply 5-6- 

 parted ; flower-bud flat and acute. Cultivated and waste grounds ; common. 

 (Nat. from Eu.) 



P. RETUSA, Engclm., too closely resembling the common Purslane, is indi- 

 genous west of the Mississippi. 



P. GILLIESII, P. GRANDIFLORA, &c. are species, or varieties, with terete 

 leaves, hairy axils, and showy red or purple flowers, cultivated in gardens for 

 ornament. 



3. TAI^INUM, Adans. TALINUM. 



Sepals 2, distinct and free, deciduous. Petals 5, ephemeral. Stamens 10- 

 30. Style 3-lobed at the apex. Pod 3-celled at the base when young, longitu- 

 dinally 3-valved, with many seeds on a globular stalked placenta. (Derivation 

 of the name obscure.) 



1. T. teretifolium, Pursh. Leafy stems low, tuberous at the base; 

 leaves linear, cylindrical ; peduncle long and naked, bearing an open cyme of 

 purple flowers (' h/oad) ; stamens 15-20. 1|. Serpentine rocks, Westeliestrr, 

 Pennsylvania, Falls of St. Croix River, Wisconsin, and southward. June - Aug. 

 Peduncles 3' -6' long. 



