Moiitia.'] 



XXXIII. PORTULACE^i 



151 



distinguishable from the calyx, frequently reticulated. Stamens 

 5, often more or less cohering. Ovary 1 -celled, inferior, with 

 3 parietal receptacles. Style short. Stigmas lobed. Fruit 

 fleshy. Seeds flat, in a juicy aril. Embryo flat. Albumeri 0. 

 Cotyledons foliaceous, nerved. — Succulent climbing plants, with 

 extra-axillary tendrils {in the place of a stipule), frequently 

 scabrous. This order contains Cticurbita^ the Gourd; Ecba-* 

 Hum pur gam ^ the Elaterium^ a powerful cathartic; Cucumis^ the 

 Cucumber^ and Melons ; Citrullus Colocynthis^ the Colocynth, 

 bitter-apples^ or bitter Cucumber; Lagenaria vulgaris^ Bottle- 

 gourd^ &c.; all abounding in a bitter laxative. -^ 



1. Bryonia Linn. Bryony. 



Cor. 5-cleft. Filaments 3-adelphous, inserted at the base of 

 the corolla. Anthers I -celled, 3-adelphous, applied to the edge 

 or back of the connectivum, and forming a sinuous line. Style 

 trifid : stigmas somewhat reniform or bifid. Fruit ovoid or 

 globose, baccate, few-seeded. — Named from /3pua>, to shoot^ or 

 grow 7^apidly^ in allusion to the quick growth of the stems. 



1. B. dioica Jacq, (red-bei^ried S.) ; leaves palmate rough on 

 both sides, flowers dioecious. E. B. t. 439. 



Thickets and hedges, frequent In Entrland; not indigenous to 

 Scotland. Pj . 5 — 9. — Root very large white and branched, 

 long, branched, weak, with simple tendrils. Flowers in short axillary 

 racemes. Cor. whitish, with green veins. ' Berries red. The plant- 

 abounds with a fetid and acrid juice. 



Stem 



Orb. XXXIII. POETULACE^ Juss. 



Sepals 2. Petals inserted into the base of the calyx (some- 

 what hypogynous), mostly 5, usually distinct, sometimes want- 

 mo^. Stamens of uncertain number, opposite the petals when of 



Ovary superior, I -celled. Style 1 or 0. 

 Capsule opening transversely or by 3 valves. 



Albumen farinaceous, 



the same number. 

 Stigmas several. 



iSee^s numerous on a central receptacle. 



surrounded by the curved embryo. — Succulent Herhs or Shrubs. 



Portulaca sativa is the Purslane. 



1. MoNTiA Linn. Blinks. 



Cor. of 5 irregular petals, somewhat hypogynous, united at 

 the base into one split up in front. Stam. 3, inserted upon the 

 corolla and opposite to its smaller segments. Stigmas 3, almost 

 sessile. Caps. 3-valved, 3-seeded. — Named in honour of 



consUpr^thl".^}^^ "''k'"^'" P^^^'fioracca, which has distinct petals. Some botanists 

 CHLAMYUE^. ^'' "" ^^"'''*' "'^ ''°''""^ ^^ "'e calyx, and remove this to Mono- 



H 4 



