184 POETULAC'ACE^. 



and broader than long, truncate or reniform at base, J to IJ in. long; 

 petioles longer than the leaves; peduncles usually exceeding the; 

 leaves; bracts 5, broadly ovate, 2 lines long; flovyers somewhat fra- 

 grant; calyx yellow, J in. long, the limb 5-lobed and the lobes 

 emarginate; fruit coriaceous, 4 to 6 lines long, acute at each end; 

 wings 4 to 6, commonly 5. 



Common along the seashore from Monterey northward; also at 

 West Berkeley. May-Nov. 



28. PORTULACACE/E. Purslane Family. 



Low herbs with succulent entire leaves and regular flowers. Calyx 

 chorisepalous (synsepalous in Portulaca). Sepals 2 (or in Lewisia 4 to 

 8), fewer than the petals. Petals 3 to 16, often 5. Stamens 3 to 20, 

 sometimes more numerous. Ovary superior; styles 2 to 8, united 

 below or distinct, stigmatic along the inside. Fruit a 1-celled cap- 

 sule, dehiscent from the apex by 2 or 3 valves, or circumscissile, the 

 top falling away as a lid. 



Sepals 2, united below and partly adherent to the ovary, the free upper portion 

 deciduous; capsule circumscissile, opening at the middle by a lid .... 



1. Portulaca. 

 Sepals 6 to 8, distinct and free from the ovary, persistent; capsule circumscissile 



near the base, the upper deciduous part splitting fi"om below 



2. Lewisia. 

 Sepals 2, distinct and free from the ovary, persistent. 



Flowers racemose or axillary; capsule 3-valved, style-branches 3. 



Petals mosily red, showy; stamens mostly 5 ormore . . 3. Calandrinia. 



Petals mostly white or pinkish; stamens 3 to 5 4. Montia. 



Flowers in seorpioid spikes; capsule 2-valved; sepals more or less scarioiis . . 



5. Calypteidihm. 



1. PORTULACA L. 



Fleshy prostrate annual with alternate leaves and yellow flowers. 

 Calyx 2-cleft, the tube adnate to the ovary below. Petals 5 (rarely 

 6), inserted with the stamens on the calyx. Stamens 7 to 20. Style 

 mostly 3 to 8-parted. Fruit a 1-celled globose capsule, opening 

 transversely, the upper part coming ofi' like a lid. Seeds many. 

 (Old Latin name.) 



1. P. oleracea L. Common Purslane. Glabrous; leaves cune- 

 ate or obovate; flowers sessile, opening only in sunshine. 

 Common in low lands: Napa Valley; Lake Co. 



2. LEWISIA Pursh. 



Acaulescent fleshy perennials with very thick farinaceous root 

 bearing a rosulate cluster of leaves and short l-flowered scapes. 

 Flowers large and handsome. Sepals (in ours) 6 to 8, herbaceous, per- 

 sistent. Petals (in ours) 12 to 16, varying from white to red. Sta- 

 mens (in ours) numerous. Style-branches 3 to 8, filiform, stigmatic 

 their whole length. Capsule circumscissile near the base, the upper 

 deciduous part more or less valvate-cleft from the base. (In honor of 

 Capt. Lewis of the Lewis & Clarke expedition across the continent, 

 who collected the following species.) 



