74 Caryophyllee—Cerastiun. 
C. trividle, C. glomerdtum, and Stellaria média, Chickweed, 
a closely allied plant, are exceedingly common garden and corn- 
field weeds. Stellaria Holdstea is a common hedgerow peren- 
nial of weak straggling habit, with large pure white flowers 
having deeply lobed petals. 
Orper XVIIIl.--PORTULACER. 
A small order of dwarf often trailing and succulent herbs, 
rarely shrubs, with brightly coloured flowers. They are dis- 
tinguished from the neighbouring orders by having fewer 
sepals (usually only 2) than petals, and usually numerous 
stamens. Méntia fontana, an inconspicuous weed, is the 
only indigenous representative. 
1. PORTULAGA. 
Herbs with fleshy stems and leaves and scarious stipules. 
Leaves entire, flat or terete, the upper ones sometimes forming 
an involucre beneath the flowers. Sepals 2, cohering at the 
base in a tube adnate to the ovary. Petals 5. Stamens 
numerous, perigynous with the petals. Capsule membrana- 
ceous, half-inferior, the free part dehiscing transversely. Seeds 
numerous. There are sixteen species, all intertropical, and 
chiefly American. From puyte, to bear, and due, milk, referring 
to the milky juice. 
1. P. grandiflora (fig. 51).—A very handsome annual when 
grown in light soil in a sunny situation. It has given birth to 
Fig. 51, Portulaca zrandifiora. (1 nat. size.) 
numerous varieties, some of which have been separated ux dis- 
tinct species. They are of the most brilliant shades of orange 
yellow, crimson, rose, or variegated and striped or spotted with 
two or more colours or shades, including white. There are 
