rry PORTULACACEiK Calyptridiu,,,. 



petioles, | to 4 inches long ; the caulinc siiuilar hut smaller, frequently scariously 

 stipulate, often reduced to a few hracts ; an involucre of broader scarious bracts 

 subtending the dense capitate umbel of Jiearly sessile spikes : llowers liglit rose- 

 color ; sepals very conspicuous, 2 to 4 lines in diameter, about wjualling the oblong- 

 obovate petals: stamens and style somewhat exsertod. — V\. Frem. in 8mitli. 

 Contrib. vi. 4, t. 1 ; Hook. Bol. Mag. t. 5143. 



In the Siena Nevada at 3,000 to 10,000 feet altitude, horn the Yoseniite VaUey northward to 

 the British boundary; E. Humboldt Mountains, Nevada (/FateOTi) ; N. W. Wyoming, Parry: 

 usually in dry rocky or sandy localities. 



S. I'ANiuuLATA, Kellogj,', I'roc. ("alii". Acad. ii. 187, t. 56. Stems paniculately branched : 

 •'growing in a dense ball or duster prostrate upon the ground and seldom 3 inches in height ; at 

 length melting into an e.Kcrelory mucilaginous watery mass. Found in a ravine about six miles 

 wesi; of Virginia City, Nevada. Dorr." Known only hom Dr. KcUogg's description and figure ; 

 probably an unusual form of the last. 



6. CALYPTRIDIUM, Nutt. 



Sepals 2, unequal, broadly ovate or orbicular, scarious, at least on the margins. 

 Petals 2, somewhat coherent at the apex. Stamen 1, opposite the lower sepal, 

 included. Style very short, bihd. Capsule 2-valved, 6-12-seeded, membranaceous. 

 Seeds black, shining. — Smooth prostrate diffusely branched annuals , with alter- 

 nate succulent leaves, and small ei)liemeral llowers in axillary or terminal, clustered 

 or compound scorpioid spikes. Oidy the following species. 



1 . C. monandrum, N utt. Stems 2 or 3 inches long : loaves 8j)atulute to 

 nearly linear, an inch long or more : sejials and petals a line long or less, tlie latter 

 at length borne calyptra-like upon the summit of the elongated linear capsule. — 

 Torr. ik Gray, Fl. i. 198. 



San Diego [NnUall) ; Colorado Desert (A'ewba-nj) ; Fort Tejon (Hom) ; Santa Clara Valley, 

 reckham. 



2. C. roseum, AVatscm. A similar but rathm- larger flowered species: this larger 

 «epal 1,^ to 3 lines broad ; tlio petals luuch smaller, free or scarciily coherent: cap- 

 sule obfong-ovate, shorter than the calyx. — Bot. King Exp. 44, t. G. 



Lake Co. ( Torreij) ; Sierra Valley (Lernmon) ; and eastward in the valleys of Nevada ( Watson) 

 to W. Wyoming on the Little Sandy River, Parry. 



7. LEWISIA, rursh. 

 Sepals 4 to 8, broadly ovate, unequal, pei-sistent, strongly imbricated. Petals 8 

 to IG, large and showy. Stamens numerous. Style 3-8-parted nearly to the base. 

 Capsule dehiscing transversely at the base, there somewhat 4 - 8-valved, many- 

 seeded. Seeds black, shining. — Low acaulescent fleshy perennials, cespitose, with 

 thick fusiform roots, and short 1-tiowered scapes; llowers showy, opening for sev- 

 eral days. The following are the only species. 



1. L. rediviva, Pursh. Leaves densely clustered, linear-oblong and subterete, 

 1 or 2 inches long, smooth and glaucous : scapes but little exceeding the leaves, 

 jointed at the middle, and with f) to 7 subulate scarious bracts verticillate at the 

 joint : sepals G to 8, with broad scarious margin.s, G to D lines long : petals usually 

 12 to 15, rose-colored or sometimes white, oblong, 8 to IG lines long : stamens 40 

 or more : capsule broadly ovate, 3 lines long. — Torr. & Gray, Fl. i. G77 ; Hook. & 

 Am. Bot. Beechey, 344, t. 8G; Hook. f. Bot. Mag. t. 5395. L. alba, Kellogg, Proc. 

 Calif. Acad, ii, 115, lig. 36. 



Sununit of Mt. Diablo {Brewer), northward to Briti.sh Columbia and east to Montana, Utah 

 and Arizona. The thick farinaceous root is largely collected by the Indians for food. It is 

 exceedingly tenacious of life, and several instances are on record of its restored vigor and growth 



