PURSLANE FAMILY 



(Portidacacece) 



Low, fleshy herbs. Flowers opening only in the sunshine 

 or bright daylight. Sepals fewer than the petals, which are 

 usually 5. Stamens 3 to 20, opposite the petals when of the 

 same number. 



RED MAIDS (Calandrinia caulescens, var. Menziesii, Gray). 

 Flowers crimson or magenta, in a loose, leafy raceme; plant a 

 succulent-stemmed annual of spreading habit 6 inches to 2 

 feet long, with alternate narrow leaves an inch or two long. 

 Blooming from January to April throughout California, in 

 fields and on roadsides and hills, often making sheets of 

 warm color over the ground. 



This pretty spring flower is one of the children's favorites 

 and besides going under the name of Red Maids is called Kisses, 

 Mr. Jepson tells us. Among the Luiseno Indians of Califor- 

 nia the plant when young and tender was eaten as greens, and 

 the pretty little seeds, black and shining like grains of gun- 

 powder, roasted and ground were used for food. 



There is a suspicion that the plant has worked its way in as 

 an immigrant from farther south. 

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