6 rOLYANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



^57. PORTULACA. L, (Purslane.) 



Calix inferior, bifid. Petals 5. Capsule I- 

 celled, opening circularly. Receptacle uncon- 

 nected, 5-lobed. 



Succulent and herbaceous plants with tkickish leaves^, 

 which are opposite or alternate, axils of the leaves na- 

 ked or piliferous; flowers terminating the smaller branch- 

 es, solitary or aggregated, partly involucrate. Stamina 

 sometimes 8. 



Species. 1. P. oleracea. Indigenous on the saline 

 and denudated plains of the Missouri. A plant common 

 to ever}' quarter of tlie world. 



A tropical genus, excepting P. oleracea, consisting of 

 about 6 species, indigenous to America, Egypt, and India. 



358. TALINUM. Mansoiu 



Calix 2 to 5 leaved, inferior. Petals 5. 

 Capsule 1-celled, 3-vaIved, many seeded. Re- 

 ceptacle globose. Scids arillate. 



Shrubby suflfruticose or herbaceous plants, with alter- 

 nate thickish, or succulent leaves, axills of the leaves 

 sometimes piliferous; flowers terminal, paniculate, race- 

 mose or corymbose. 



Species. 1. T. teretifoHum. Leaves terete, subulate, 

 camose; scape cymose, flowers pedunculate polyandrous,. 

 calix 2-leaved, Pluk. Thyt. t. 223. f. 2. " Sedum petrx- 

 um teretifolium Virginianum." Obs. Root perennial* 

 ^ubcespitose, leaves crowded, radical; scapes elongated 

 naked; flowers purple, peduncle subtended by opposite 

 membranaceous bractes. Hab. In the mountains of Vir- 

 ginia, and in Louisiana near St. Louis. Found also several 

 years ago by Dr. Darlington near Chester in the state of 

 Delaware. 



S59. CHELIDONIUM. L. (Celandine.) 



Calix 2-leaved, deciduous. Petals 4. Stig- 

 ma small and bifid, sessile. Silique snpeiior, 

 2-valved, 1-celled, linear. Dissepiment none. 

 Seeds many, crested. 



Herbaceous, leaves alternate, pinnatifidly lobed; pedun-, 

 cles umbellate many flowered, axillary and terminal; 

 flowers ydlow; stamina about 12; sap yellow aad bitter. 



