Portulaca.] XVII. POETULACE^. SJ5 



long, and the petals apparently not longer. Stamens about 6, the anthers very 

 transparent. Style divided into 2 to 4 lanceolate, transparent, and very delicate 

 lobes. Seeds few, black, granulate. 



Hab.: Cape River. 



The Sturt's Creek specimens have smaller and rather broader leaves, and in the flower I 

 examined the lobes of the style were broader than in those from Victoria Biver, but both are 

 probably forms of one species, nearly allied to the Bast Indian P. quadriftda, but at once known 

 by the absence of stipular hairs. — Benth. 



7. P. bicolor (two-coloured), F. ,'. M. Fmgm. i. 171 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 

 170. A minute, prostrate, tuberous-rooted plant, with opposite branches, rarely 

 above Ifin. long. Leaves all opposite, broadly ovate or orbicular, scarcely ex- 

 ceeding 2 Unes. Flowers as in P. oligosperma, minute, solitary, terminal, and 

 closely sessile belween 4 bract-like floral leaves (appearing pedicellate, with 4 

 calyx-like bracts at the summit of the pedicel). Sepals not 1 line long. Petals 

 minute, yellow. Stamens about 6. Style with 4 (or sometimes 2 ?) lanceolate, 

 transparent, very delicate lobes. Capsule short, broad. Seeds several, small, 

 black, granulate. 



Hab.: Keppel Bay, E. Br.; Bustard Head, Jas. Keys. 



8. P. Armitii (after W. E. Armit), F. i: M. Fragm. x. 97. Plant about 2 

 or Sin. high. Leaves 1^ to 3 lines long, opposite, cordate-orbicular, on very 

 short petioles. Stipular hairs none. Pedicels 1^ line or less. Flowers solitary, 

 deciduous, part of the calyx, 3 to 5 lines long. Petals purple, 8 lines long. 

 Anthers oblong-oval. Style-branches shortly exserted and dilated. Operculum 

 1 to IJ line long. Seeds numerous, turgid, shining. 



Hab.: Robertson Biver. 



*2. TALINUM, Adans. 



(Said to be the name given to the plant by the negros of Senegal, who eat 



it as a salad.) 



Sepals 2, herbaceous, ovate, deciduous or rarely subpersistent. Petals 5, hypo- 

 gynous. Stamens indefinite, 6 to numerous, adhering to the base of the petals. 

 Ovary free, ovules numerous. Style 3-fid or 3-sulcate. Capsule globose or ovoid, 

 chartaceous, 3-valved. Seeds subglobose or compressed, strophiolate. — Succulent 

 herbs or shrubs. Leaves fiat, alternate or subopposite, no stipules. Flowers 

 racemose or paniculated. ' 



Found in warm countries throughout the world. 



1. T. patens (spreading), Willd. A succulent perennial. Stems almost 

 simple, 1 to 2ft. high, leafy to the middle, where the panicle begins. Leaves 

 opposite or alternate, 2 to 6in. long, 1 to 2|^in. broad, tapering much towards the 

 base. The upper part of the plant composed of a panicle bearing dichotomous 

 cymes of pink flowers. Pedicels filiform ; sepals roundish, deciduous ; petals 

 small, obovate ; stamens 15 to 20; style-branches divergent; capsule globose. 

 Seeds minutely granulose. 



Hab.: A S. American plant often found as a stray from garden culture near towns, 



8. CALANDRINIA, H. B. and K. 



(After J. L. Calandrini.) 



Sepals 2, persistent or rarely deciduous. Petals 5 or more, or rarely fewer, 

 hypogynous. Stamens indefinite, numerous or few, free or united in a ring at 

 the base, or adhering to the petals. Ovary free, with several ovules, rarely 

 reduced to 1 or 2. Styles 3 or rarely 4, free or united in a single style, 3 or 

 4-eleft, or furrowed at the top. Capsule globose, ovoid or oblong, opening in 



