208 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



1. Portulaca. Sepals 2, united ; upper portion deciduous. Petals 

 4-6, equal. Stamens 8-20. Styles 3-6, cleft at apex. Capsule a 

 pyxis, many-seeded. 



P. OLERACEA (Purslane). Stem thick, very branching, prostrate, spread- 

 ing ; leaves sessile ; flowers pale yellow, sessile ; petals 5, cohering at base ; 

 foliage reddish green. A common and troublesome weed. Introduced. 

 June-July. 



2. Claytonia. Sepals 2, persistent. Petals 5, hypogynous. Sta- 

 mens 5, on the claws of the petals. Stigma 3-cleft. Capsule 3-valvcd, 

 2-5-seeded. y. 



C. VIRGINICA (Spring Beauty). Stem simple, glabrous ; leaves opposite, 

 linear ; flowers white, veined with purple, in a raceme ; sepals rather acute. 

 A handsome little plant 4'-8' high, arising from a root. Low grounds. 

 April-May. 



Order XVI. HYPERICACE^: (St.-John's-wort Family). 



Herbs or shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire, without stipules, 

 punctate with black glands and transparent dots. Flowers mostly 

 regular. Sepals 4-5, persistent. Petals as many as the sepals, 

 and alternate with them, twisted in prefloration. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous, usually numerous, and cohering by their filaments in 3 

 or more sets ; sometimes definite, and monadelphous, or distinct. 

 Anthers versatile. Ovary composed of 2-5 united carpels. Fruit 

 a many-seeded capsule, with septicidal dehiscence, either i -celled, 

 or more or less completely 2-5-celled. 



( Petals convolute Hypericum. 

 HYPERICACE^E.^ 



( Petals imbricated Elodes. 



I. Hypericum. Sepals 5, connected at base. Petals 5, oblique. 

 Stamens numerous, sometimes few, united at base into 3-5 parcels, 

 occasionally distinct. Styles 3-5, separate, or united, persistent, 



1. H. PERFORATUM (St .-John 1 s-worf}. Stem erect, 2-edged, smooth, 

 branching ; leaves elliptical, obtuse, sessile, punctate with pellucid dots ; 

 flowers bright yellow, in panicles ; sepals lanceolate, shorter than the obo- 

 vate petals. A troublesome plant, in pastures and dry grounds. Introduced. 

 June-July. 



2. H. MUTILUM (Small St.-John's-wqrt}. Stem erect, smooth, 4-angled ; 

 leaves oval, obtuse, entire, sessile, s-veined ; flowers very small, greenish 

 yellow, in leafy cymes ; sepals lanceolate, a little longer than the petals ; 

 stamens 6-12, distinct ; capsule ovate, conical. A small species in wet 

 grounds. July-August. 



