rORTrLACACF.K. (pURSLANE FAMILY.) 97 



16. MOLLUGO, L. Ixdiax-Chickwekd. 



Sepals 5, wliitc inside. Petals none. Stamens hypojrynous, 5 and nlternato 

 with the sepals, or .3 and alternate with the 3 cells of the ovary. Stij^inas 3. 

 Pod 3-celkd, 3-valved, loenlieidal, the partitions breaking away from the many- 

 seeded axis. — Low homely annuals, nuieh branched ; the stii)ules obsolete. 

 (An o!il L;uin name for some soft plant.) 



1. M. verticill^ta, h. (Caki'i;t-\vki;d.) Prostrate, forming patches; 

 leaves spatulate, clustered in whorls at the joints, Avhere the 1-Howered peditcls 

 form a sort of sessile uml)cl ; stamens usually 3. — Saudy river-banks, and cul- 

 tivated grounds. June- Sept. (An immigrant from farther south.) 



Ordeu 19. PORTUIiACACE^E. (Purslane Family.) 



Herbs, tfilh succulent leaves, and regular hut unsymmelrical Jlowera ; viz., 

 sepals usualli/ fewer than the petals : the siaviens opposite the petals when 

 of the same number, but of en indefinite: otherwise nearly as Chickweeds. 

 — Sepals 2, rarely 3 or 5. Petals 5, or sometimes none. Stamens mostly 

 5 - 20. Styles 3-8, united below, or distinct, stigmatic along the inside. 

 Pod 1 - 5-celled, with few oi- many campylotropous seeds rising on stalks 

 from the base, or from a central placenta. Embryo curved around mealy 

 albumen. — Insipid and innocent herbs, with entire leaves. Corolla open- 

 ing only in sunshine, mostly ej)hemeral, then shrivelling. 



* ANOMALOrS PORTULACACE.E. Sepals 5, bearing the stamens. 



1. Sesn'vliini. Pot;ils none. Stamens 5 - 60. Pcxl 3 -S-cUed, opening across by a lid. 



• . TRl'E POIlTrLACACE.E. Sepals (2) fewer than the petals : pod I -celled. 



2. Pnrtiilaca. Stamens 7 20, on the partly adherent calyx Pixl open in;: by a lid. 



3. Taliitiim. Stamens more numerous than the petjils, hypopynous Pod manj'-seeded. 



4. CInytoiiia. Stamens as many as the hypogyuous petals, and attached to their base. 



Pod 3 - 6-seeiled 



1 . S E S tr V I U M , L. Sea PunsL.\xE. 



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

 CO, inserted on the calyx. Styles 3-5, separate. Pod 3 -5-ccllcd, many-seeded, 

 circumscissile, the upper part falling off as a lid. — Prostrate maritime herbs, 

 with succulent stems, 0]ipositc leaves, and axillary or terminal flowers. (An 

 Mncx]ilaincd name.) 



1- S. Portulac^strum, L. Root perennial; leaves lanceolate-oblong, 

 flatfish; flowers sessile or short-pedunclcd ; stamens many. — Coast of New 

 Jersey and .southward. July - Sept. 



2. PORTULACA, Tourn. PrnsLAXE. 



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

 inserted on the calyx with the 7 -20 stamens, fugacious. Stvle mostlv3-8- 

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

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

 with mostly scattered leaves. (.-Vn old Latin name, of unknown mc;ining.) 

 GM— 5 



