53 POLYANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



ISi. HELIANTHExMUM. Nutt. Gen. 455. 

 [Gr. Hdios, the siiiij and Anthemon, a flower; the flowers opening, as is said, only in the sunshine.] 



Cal. 5 leaveil, the two exteriornarrower. Cos.. petals 5. Caps. 1 celled, 3 valved, opening at top. 



ii- CArfADENSE. FJl. Leaves oblong-lanc^olate, flat; racemes terminal, few-flowered; stumens inclined. 



Synon. Cistus canadensis. IVilld. Big- Lc. F-'ii/(,-o— Frost weed. Sock rose. 



F(. Middift of Jane. Fr. mat. Latter end of July. 



JIab. Sterile lii!!.?: Barrens: rare elsewhere. 9 to 15 inches high: flowers yellow, large. 



IT. R4.MTTLiFi.o7it-M. 3fe. Leaves laace-oval, margins revolute; flowers crowded on short branches. 



Fl. Beginning of July, and after. Fr. mat. Beg;inn!ng of August, and after. 



Hub- Barren ridge, frequent: rare elsewhere. 1 to 2 feet high: flowers yellow, inconspicuous. 



Ohf- This species has much of the habit of Lechea major, except that the fruit is larger, and in more 

 crowded glomerules. 



185. TALINUM. Nuit. Gen. 458. 

 [Perhaps from the Gr. iAaWo, to be green; alluding to the verdant habit of the genusv] 



C'AL- 2 leaved. Cor. petals 5, spreading. Caps. 1 celled, 3 valved, many seeded.. Re cept- globose. 



T. TERETiFOLiuM. Nutt. Leaves terete, subulate, carnose; peduncles elongatedj naked, cymose. 



I'l. Latter end of June till September. Fr. mat. September, and October- 



JIab. Serpentine rocks, exclusively: Barren ridge, abundant. 4 to 10 inches high: flowers reddish purple. 



Obs. Tills handsome little plant is remarkably circumscribed in its habitat. I have never met with it 

 except where the Serpentine rock rises to the surface of the earth; and even there it is confined to the 

 most naked and sterile sjiOts. In such places, however, it may almost invariably be found in great abun-' 

 daiice. The root is perennial, and hardy,— of a firm, fleshy consi.stence ; generally much exposed, and of 

 a reddish brown color, externally. The leaves are cylindrical, mostly incurved, and acute, one to tv.'o in- 

 ches in length, and about a line in diameter, rather crowded, and often patting forth in fascicles from the 

 root. The pedtmcks (for they are not strictly seape^, — being generally inserted on short, fleshy stems.) 

 are .slender, naked, elongated, and cjmosely branched above; the pedicels clavate, somewhat resembling 

 (he htjpeti of the Caulophyllum,— and subtended by small membranaceous bractes, mostly opposite, — often,, 

 in threes at the branches, forming a sort of involucre. The flowers appear in succession, opening in the?.) 

 mfddle of the day. and closing in the evenmg, not to expand agaia; the petals, shriveliiug, and apparently!;, 

 twisting together, remain a considerable time on the germ. The style is the length of the stamens; thef 

 stigma triftd, spreading, and minutely pubescent. The capsule is triangular-ovate, — or often trigonous-tur-:'^ 

 l,ji,j'ate— of three valves, v.-iih a little ridge in the middle of each vaive, within, like the rudiment of a dis- " 

 Sicpiir.rnt. The seeds are sub-reniform, or rather somewhat cochleate; and not arillatc, — therefore not 

 exactly agreeing with the generic character, as given by Nutlall, and Willdenow. The annexed plate 

 will afford a pretty good idea of the habit of the plant. 



ISa. PORTULACA. Nutt. Gen. 467. 

 [An ancient name, of obscure etymology.] 



Cal. half superior, Lilid, compressed, persistent. Cor. petals 5. Caps, circumscissed, many seeded. 



P. oleracea. E!l. Stem prostrate, branching, terete, glabrous; leaves cuneiform-obovate; flowers sessilC' 



FcZ^o— Purslane. Garden Purslane. 



17. Last of July, and after. Fr. mat. Last of August, and after. 



Ilah. Gardens, and cultivated lots: common. 6 to 15 inches long: flowers yellow. 



'O&s. The seeds are punc.tately indented; and, in figure, somewhat resemble those of Talinum._ Although 

 a common piaiitj t doubt its beiu-- a native here. It is sometimes used as a pot-herb: but is not much 

 esteemed. 



1S7. CHELIDONIUM. Nutt. Gen. 459. 

 [Gr. Chdidon, a swallow; fiov/ering about the time that bird makes its appearance.] 



Cat.. 2 leaved, caducous. Cor. petals 4. -St/iqufi linear, 2 valved, 1 celled. Si^tZs crested, numerous- 



C MAjrs. Sm. Fl. Brii. Leaves alternate, pinnate, lobed, lobes crenate; umbels axillary, pedunculate. 



T';:' ',0— Oelandine. 



Fl. Begianiug of '-vlay. Fr. inat. M\M]c of July. 



liab. Fence-rows; among rubbish, &c. frequent. 2 to 3 feet high: flowers j'cilow. 



OJ:s. Tills foveisiiier has pscaj>ed from our gardens, and is bpcovning extensively naturalized. The deep 

 yeilov,- jtuce of this phiit U a well known 'popular cure for warts, tetters, &c. but is scarcely worthy of 



