LXXI. 
CLAYTONIA SPATUL/AZFOLIA. 
Spatula-leaved Claytonia. 
ORDO NATURALIS. 
Portulacee. Juss. Gen. p. 312. 
1:6 C wea ‘ 
Calyx 2-phyllus. Petala 5, retusa. Filamenta 5,t i , petalisopposita. Pericarpium 
1-loculare, polyspermum, 3-valve, ab apice dehiscens. Stylus 1. Stigmata 3, obcuneata. Herbe, ra- 
dice Cyclaminis instar tuberosd. Folia pauca ; radicalia in petiolos sub terram pariter vagantes at- 
fenuata; caulina 2, sepius opposita. Flores in spicis circinatis int dum decompositis, longe pedicellati 
Bractea pedicella infimo opposita, sguameformis. An congeneres C, Sibirica L, et Pertoliata Willd. 
pericarpio forsan, tanquam radicatione, abludentes ? 
wm de, mn 
C. foliis spatulatis : calycis foliolis obtusis : petalorum nervis valde coloratis. 
C. caroliniana. Mich. Fl. Boreali-Am. v. i. p. 160. C. virginica 8. Soland. in Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 1.p. 
284, : 
Sponte nascentem in South Curolina montibus excelsis, legit A. Michaux. 
Floret apud nos Aprili, Maio. 
A legitimate species of this curious genus, which, notwithstanding CLayTon’s observation, I have 
no doubt is dicotyledonous. Dr. Sims indeed, in the 941st number of the Botanical Magazine, has 
ingeniously brought forward several characters, in which C. Virginica resembles the Asphodeli, but 
the petals of his figure are not correct, being represented lanceolate and sharp, instead of obovate 
and retuse. The two Siberian species are different in habit to ours, with only three seeds in the pe- 
a which bursts with elasticity ; and they must probably be restored to their former title of 
nia. 
Root about the size of a Spanish nut, dull brown, sending out short fibres from various parts near 
the top. Leaves few, radical ones attenuated into petioles, which as well as the stem run under 
ground for a short space like those of most Cyclamens, from one to two inches long, spatulate, quite 
entire, obtuse, smooth, succulent. Stem, where broken, perforated by a tough string. Flowers in a 
racte embraces the stem opposite to the first pedicle in both spe- 
r, both obtuse. Petals and filaments inserted in the 
i ly as in Dianthus, so that there is not a shadow of 
pretence for placing Portulacee in a different class. Anthers bright purple, deeply acl at 
the top and bottom. Seeds impregnated by @ central chord continuous with the style, generally six 
mm number, 
REFERENCES TO THE PLATE. 
| icatrix 1 inserted, 2. Two 
_1, A Petal magnified, showing the cicatrix 1n the torus, where the filament was inserted, * ° 
views of a Stigma magnified. 3. Pistillum natural size. 4. Tranyerse section of the young Fruit mag 
nified. 5. A young Seed magnified. 
