44 portulacacejE. (purslane family.) 



Smooth herbs, with a simple stem bearing two opposite leaves, and terminated 

 with a loose raceme of pale rosc-colortd, veiny flowers. 



1. C. Virginioa, L. Leaves long (3'- 6'), linear, acutish ; petals mostly 

 emarginatc, but sometimes acute. — Damp rich soil in the upper districts. 

 March. — Plant 4' - 10' long. 



2. C. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves short (l'-2'), ovate-lanceolate or 

 oblong, tapering at the base, obtuse ; petals obtuse. — Mountains of North Caro- 

 lina and northward. March and April. — Smaller than the last. 



2. TALINXTM:, Adans. 



Sepals 2, free, deciduous. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens 10-30. Style 

 3-k)bcd. Capsule 3-celled at the base, 3-valvcd, many-seeded. — Smooth and 

 fleshy herbs, with alternate leaves and cymose flowers. 



1. T. teretifolium, Pursh. Stem thick, leafy; leaves linear-cylindrical ; 

 eymes on long peduncles ; petals purple, fugacious. — Rocks, North Carolina 

 and northward. June -Aug. If — Stems 2' - 4' long. Peduncles 5'- 8' long. 



3. POBTULACA, Toum. Purslane. 



Sepals 2, united and cohering with the ovary below, the upper portion circum- 

 scissile and deciduous with the upper part of the capsule. Petals 4-6, inserted 

 with the 8-20 stamens on the calyx. Style 3-8-parted. Capsule glob9se, 

 1-celled, many-seeded. — Low, fleshy herbs, with terete or flat, mostly alternate 

 leaves, and fugacious j'cUow or purple flowers. 



1 . P. Oleracea, L. Leaves flat, cuneate, naked in the axils ; flowers yel- 

 low ; stamens 10-12. — Cultivated ground everywhere. — Stem prostrate. 



2. P. pilosa, L. Leaves linear, obtuse, with a tuft of hairs in the axils ; 

 flowers purple ; stamens about 20. — Key West, Florida, 



4. SESUVIUM, L. Sea Pueslane. 



Sepals 5, free,- united at the base, persistent, colored within. Petals none. 

 Stamens 5, or numerous, inserted on the- calyx. Styles 3-5. Capsule 3^5- 

 celled, many-seeded, circumscissile. — Prostrate and fleshy maritime plants, 

 with nearly opposite and entire leaves, and axillaiy purplish flowers. 



1. S. portulacastrum, L. Leaves lanceolate and oblong, afute, on 

 winged and clasping petioles ; flowers pedicelled ; sepals fleshy, lanceolate, mu- 

 cronate, purple within ; stamens numerous. — Sandy or muddy places along 

 the coast, Florida and northward. May - December. Ij. — Stems difl^use, creep- 

 ing, forming mats which are sometimes 6° in diameter. 



2. S. pentaudrum, Ell. Leaves spatulate-obovate, obtuse, on slightly 

 winged and clasping petioles ; flowers sessile ; sepals ovate-lanceolate, stamens 

 5.^ Miiddy saline coves, Florida to North Carolina. May -November. Q) t 

 — Stems (often erect) and flowers smaller than in the preceding. 



