54 Plants Collected in Paraguay. 



PORTULACEJE. 



Portulaca pilosa, L., Sp. PI., 639. 



Between Yilla Rica and Escoba (452). January. 



Portulaca marginata, H. B. K., Nov. Gen., vi, 58. Ex descr. 



Between Yilla Rica and Escoba (452 a), January. Pilcomayo 

 River (1053). June. 



Portulaca grandiflora, Hook., Bot. Mag,, t. 2885. 



Asuncion (278 and 59). December-June. 



This Portulaca is very common around Asuncion, often growing- 

 in the streets oF the city, and abundant in the sandy soil of the 

 environs. It varies very much, however, in the size of the flowers, 

 often showing a corolla not larger than a dime in diameter and 

 again 3 times as large. It is usually of a bright purple or rose 

 tint, but sometimes yellow. Its gay-colored corolla, fully expanded 

 in the morning sun, scattered in masses over the green sward, often 

 tempted me into early walks while the dew still lay upon the ground. 



Talinum crassifolium (Jacq.), Willd., Sp. PL, ii, 862. 



Asuncion (104 and 677), = Balansa 2253. November-January. 



A small branching plant 15-20 cm, high, with small terminal 

 clusters of pretty rose-colored or sometimes yellowish-brown blos- 

 soms. Leaves succulent, obovate, 4 or 5 cm, long, rouuded at apex, 

 and sloping at base into a short petiole. Capsule white, as large as 

 a pea, 1-celled, containing many small, black, striolate, cochleate 

 seeds. In ordinary drying, this plant goes to fragments, and the 

 only method by which I could preserve specimens whole, was to 

 steep the fresh plant in boiling water. 



Talinum patens (Jacq.), Willd,, Sp. PL, ii, 863. 



Asuncion (252). December, Between Yilla Rica and Escoba 

 (531), January. 



Similar to the preceding species in habit. Flowers white or yel- 

 low, in long, terminal panicles, on a leafless peduucle 10-15 cm. long. 

 Leaves all near the base of the stem, obovate, rounded or abruptly 

 pointed at the apex, 5-12 cm. long, sloping at the base into a short 

 petiole. Stem reaches a height of 6 dm., and the panicle 2-|- dm. 



