OLASS XX111, ORDER 1.] WALIMUS, 1303 
GENUS II. HAL'TMUS.—Wattr. Sea Purslane. 
Nat. Ord. Cunnorop'na. Juss. 
Gen. Cuan. Barren and united flowers, perianth five partite. Sta 
mens five. Pistils imperfect, rarely perfect. Lertile flowers, 
perianth of two parts, united to the extremity, three toothed, 
wedge-shaped below, becoming larger after flowering, and en- 
closing the seed. Stigmas two. Fruit an urticle, with a single 
vertical seed, albuminous, its testa membranous, pendulous, from 
an elongated funiculus, radical terminal. Pericarp very thin, 
ultimately adhering to the tube of the perianth. 
1. HZ. portulacoi'des, Wallr. (Fig. 1565.) Shrubby Sea Purstane. 
Stem woody ; leaves opposite, obovate lanceolate, entire, attenuated 
below, white and silvery; perianth of the fruit triangular, oblong, 
rounded below, on a short footstalk, three lobed above, and muricated 
at the back. 
Atriplex portulacoides.—English Botany, t 261.—English Flora, 
vol. iv. p. 256.—Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 378.—Lindley, 
Synopsis, p. 216. 
Root woody, somewhat creeping, much branched. Stem one to two 
feet high, woody, branched, ascending, white and hoary, round below, 
square above. Leaves opposite, obovate oblong, obtuse or acute at 
the point, tapering at the base into a footstalk, the lower ones some- 
times becoming almost hastate, white, with silvery mealiness on both 
sides, but especially beneath. Inflorescence terminal branched and 
axillary interrupted spikes. Flowers reddish green, in small lateral 
tufts, some having styles only, others bearing styles and stamens, 
and again others with stamens only. Perianth of the fruit becoming 
enlarged, of a triangular oblong figure, rounded below, on a short 
footstalk, two valved, three lobed, and united to nearly the end, mu- 
ricated at the back. 
Habitat.— Muddy sea shore ; not unfrequent. 
Shrub ; flowering in July and August. 
This is a low branched shrub, becoming larger by cultivation, and 
is rather ornamental, on account of its silvery looking leaves. It is 
common on all the sea coasts of Europe, but has not been applied to 
any particular use, although the whole plant abounds with soda. 
2. H. peduncula'ta, Wallr. (Fig. 1566.) Stalked Sea Purslane. 
Stem herbaceous, wavy, branched, spreading ; leaves ovate, entire, 
tapering at the base, the upper ones narrower; perianth triangular, 
with two large lobes, and a small intermediate one, on long foot- 
stalks. 
Atriplex pedunculata, Linn.—FEnglish Botany, t. 232.—Knglish 
Flora, vol. iv. p. 261.—Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i, p. 879.— 
Lindley, Synopsis, p. 217. 
