PORTULACACE.E. 227 



Plate 99. 

 PORTULACA, Tourn. 



Calyx tubo cum ovario inferne connato, limbo 2-partito 

 circumscisse deciduo. Petala 4-6, cum staminibus S-20 

 summo calycis tubo iuserta, fugacissima. Stylus 3 — S-parti- 

 tus. Capsula unilocularis, polysperma, circumscisse dehis- 

 cens. 



Portulaca, Tourn. Inst. p. 236. t. 118. Adans. Fam. 2. p. 242. Juss. 

 Gen. p. 312. Gasrtn. Fr. t. 128. DC. PI. Gras. 1. 123, & Prodr. 

 3. p. 353. Endl. Gen. 5174. 



Purslane. 



Calyx two-cleft or two-parted ; the tube coherent with 

 the lower part of the ovary ; the divisions herbaceous, im- 

 bricated in aestivation, circumscissile round their base and 

 deciduous. Petals 4 to 6, distinct, or a little united at the 

 base, inserted on the summit of the tube of the calyx just 

 where it becomes free from the ovary, equal or unequal, 

 imbricated in aestivation, expanding only once, then colli- 

 quescent. Stamens 8 or numerous, inserted at the base of 

 the petals : filaments subulate or filiform : anthers introrse, 

 didymous, the oval cells opening longitudinally. Ovary 

 ovoid, one-celled, wiflk a free basilar placenta : styles 3 to 

 8, united at the base, stigmatose down the inner side. 

 Ovules indefinite, erect on capillary and free or branching 

 funiculi from the basilar placenta, amphitropous. 



Capsule (pyxis) membranaceous, one-celled, ovoid or 

 globular, circumscissile near the middle at the point where 

 the calyx ceases to be adherent, the upper part falling off as 

 a lid. Seeds numerous, campylotropous, reniform-annular ; 

 the crustaceous and shining testa often granulated. Embryo 

 completely or incompletely annular around the outside of 

 the farinaceous albumen : radicle inferior : cotyledons 

 semiterete, incumbent. 



