HYPERICACEiE — PORTULACACE^ 339 



stamens few to many, often in clusters of 3 or 5, hypogynous: pod 



1- to 7-celled. 



HYPERICUM. St. John's wort. Figs. 192, 259. 



Mojstly biiuiching plants with yellow flowers in cymes: leaves sessile, 

 usiiall.v (lotifd: sepals and petals 5: stamens many, mostly in 3-5 groups. 



H. perforatum, Linn. A common introduced species: stems upright, 

 1-3 ft., branching, 2-edged: leaves linear to oblong, dotted, sessile: flowers 

 about 1 in. iu diameter, the petals dotted with black and much exceeding the 

 lanceolate se[>als: stamens grouped in 3 sets: capsule 3-celled. Spreads 

 l)y running shoots from base. 



H. macul^tum, Walt. Much like preceding, but leaves more broadly- 

 ol)long, sepals more ovate, and the petals often lined, as well as dotted, with 

 black. 



XXIII. PORTULACACE.^. Purslane Family. 



Herbs succulent or fleshy, with entire leaves, alternate or oppo- 

 site, and dry stipules: flowers regular but not symmetrical: sepals 2: 

 petals 4-5 or none: stamens equal to number of petals and opiiosite, 

 or fewer, or more", ovaries free, each 1-celled: style 2-3-cleft, or 

 divided, stigmatic on inner surfaces: fruit a 1-eelled pod, opening 

 loeulicidally, or a pyxis, opening by a lid: seeds small, kidney- 

 shaped, few or many. 



A. Stamens more numerous than petals: flowers opening once 



only, in sunshine 1. Porfitlaca 



AA. Stamens 5: flowers open for some time 2. Cluytonia 



1. PORTULACA. Purslane. Fig. 254. 



Low, fleshy annuals, diffuse or ascending: terminal flowers, which open 

 once only, in sunshine: sepals 2, joined at base and partially adherent to 

 ovary: petals 4-G on calyx, not lasting: stamens 7-many, on calyx: style 

 3-8 parted. 



P. oleracea, Linn. Common purslane. Pusley. A very common weed. 

 Smooth, fleshy, prostrate: stems cylindrical, reddish: leaves obovate or 

 wedge-form, thick, nearly sessile: flowers small, yellow, sessile, open iu 

 morning sunshine. Sometimes used for greens. 



P. grandifldra, Lindl. Bose-moss. Stems erect 3-6 in., fleshy, smooth 

 or hairy: leaves alternate, cylindrical, 3^-1 in. long: flowers open in morn- 

 ing: very gay colors, white, yellow, reds, 1-2 in. wide. South America. 

 Gardens. 



2. CLAYTONIA. Spring Beauty. 



Low, glabrous, perennial herbs, from small tubers: flowers lasting some 

 time: sepals 2: petals 5, distinct or slightly united: stamens 5, one on base 



