574 Caryophyllea Cerastium. 



G. triviale, C. glomeratum, and Stellaria media, Chickweed, 

 a closely allied plant, are exceedingly common garden and corn- 

 field weeds. Stellaria Holostea is a common hedgerow peren- 

 nial of weak straggling habit, with large pure white flowers 

 having deeply lobed petals. 



ORDER XVIII. PORTULACE^l. 



A small order of dwarf often trailing and succulent herbs, 

 rarely shrubs, with brightly coloured flowers. They are dis- 

 tinguished from the neighbouring orders by having fewer 

 sepals (usually only 2) than petals, and usually numerous 

 stamens. Montia fontana, an inconspicuous weed, is the 

 only indigenous representative. 



1. PORTULACA. 



Herbs with fleshy stems and leaves and scarious stipules. 

 Leaves entire, flat or terete, the upper ones sometimes forming 

 an involucre beneath the flowers. Sepals 2, cohering at the 

 base in a tube adnate to the ovary. Petals 5. Stamens 

 numerous, perigynous with the petals. Capsule membrana- 

 ceous, half-inferior, the free part dehiscing transversely. Seeds 

 numerous. There are sixteen species, all intertropical, and 

 chiefly American. From porto, to bear, and lac, milk, referring 

 to the milky juice. 



1. P. grandiflora (fig. 51). A very handsome annual when 

 grown in light soil in a sunny situation. It has given birth to 



Fig. 51. Portulaca grandiflora. (i nat. size.) 



numerous varieties, some of which have been separated as dis- 

 tinct species. They are of the most brilliant shades of orange 

 yellow, crimson, rose, or variegated and striped or spotted with 

 two or more colours or shades, including white. There are 



