FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
PoRTULACA FOLIOSA (leafy) is a half-hardy annual, 
Species. a | X)11 ^ 0 i nc hes high, with awl-shaped leaves and yellow 
flowers. Calyx hairy, and involucre many-leaved. Flowers June. 
P. Gilliesii (Gillies’). Stems branching from the base, somewhat 
erect, 6 inches; leaves cylindrical with flattened sides, blunt tips, and 
bunches of hairs in the axils. Flowers red or purple, at the ends of the 
branches, usually solitary; June and July. 
P. grandiflora (large flowered). Sun Plant. Stems fleshy, at first 
reclining then more erect, 6 inches high, with shoft branches, each 
terminating in three or four flower-buds. Leaves somewhat cylindrical, 
flattened. Flowers about \\ inch across, of the most brilliant tints of 
yellow, orange, red, purple, and white; June to August. Involucre of 
many leaves. A rather tender perennial, but best grown as a half-hardy 
annual. The var. theUusoni has scarlet flowers with white centre, and 
taller stems; var. splendens has purple or crimson flowers. 
P. oleracea (pot-herb). Purslane. Stems prostrate, 6 inches 
high, with oblong wedge-shaped leaves. Flowers, yellow, clustered or 
solitary. Perfectly hardy. 
Cultivation. ^he sunniest, driest spot in the garden is the proper 
situation for the species of Portulaca. They prefer a light, 
porous soil, but unless in full sunlight they will not open their flowers. 
In such soil and situation as we have indicated, the large size and 
brilliance of their flowers, combined with their lowly habit, render 
them valuable plants for edging to beds or borders. The double varieties 
must be treated as perennials and propagated by cuttings. These readily 
root, but require to be housed in heat during the winter. The single 
forms should be grown as half-hardy annuals, sowing the seed in a 
sunny border in May, or on a hot-bed early in April. It is best to make 
the May sowing a permanent one, leaving the plants, after thinning out, 
to flower where they germinated. The April sowing, of course, will 
need transplanting, and this should be done as soon as the seedlings 
have several leaves. They are useful for furnishing beds containing 
spring flowering bulbous plants which are left in the ground all summer. 
The seeds of the Portvlacas should be sown as soon as the bulbs have 
gone to rest. P. grandiflora makes a charming pot-plant. When grown 
in the greenhouse great care must be taken to keep the pots fairly dry ; 
they should have a high and light position. 
De pi2T« n ° f Three se P arate P ieces of P. grandiflora are shown, 
each with flowers of different colour. Fig. 1 is a 
ec ion, 2, the seed, natural size and greatly enlarged; and 3, the 
seeing soon after its first appearance. 
