128 ficoide^i. 



larger ones 2 — 4 in. long, acute : flowering branches 6-10 in. high, with 

 scattered broadly ovate to lanceolate clasping bracts: bracts ovate- 

 lanceolate: pedicels 1—3 lines long: sepals broadly lanceolate, }£ in. 

 long: petals yellow, oblong-lanceolate, mostly acuminate, 4 — 6 lines 

 long : carpels ovate-oblong, 3^ in. long. — Near Sonoma. 



Ordbb xl. F I C I D E >£ . 



Very succulent herbs or shrubs. Leaves plane, triquetrous or terete, 

 without stipules. Calyx-lobes usually 5, unequal, foliaceous. Petals 

 very many and linear or 0. Stamens 5 — oo, with slender filaments, 

 inserted on the calyx-tube. Styles 4 — 20. Fruit 4 — 20-celled, dehiscent 

 stellately across the summit, or circumscissile, or indehiscent. Seeds 

 usually numerous and minute. 



1. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, Breyne. Flowers large, terminal. 

 Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary. Petals and stamens very numerous. 

 Fruit structurally capsular, but in ours juicy and baccate. 



1. M. seqnilaterale, Haw. Perennial, glabrous, glaucescent, the 

 stout prostrate stems several feet long, the short flowering branches 

 ascending; leaves opposite, very fleshy, triquetrous with linear sides, 

 1 — 3 in. long: fl. solitary, subsessile, \% in. broad, bright rose-purple: 

 calyx-tube turbinate, %, m - long or more; the larger lobes as long: 

 stigmas 6 — 10: fr. large, fragrant, edible.— On banks and cliffs near the 

 sea; also Australian and Chilian. 



2. SESUVIUM, Linn (Sea Purslane). Flowers small, axillary and 

 terminal. Calyx-tube free from the ovary; lobes 5, apiculate on the 

 back near the top, scarious-margined, often purplish within. Petals 0. 

 Stamens 5— oo, inserted at the top of the calyx-tube. Styles 3—5. 

 Capsule ovate-oblong, 3 — 5-celled, circumscissile, oo -seeded. 



1. S. Portulacastrum, L. Stems prostrate, 1 ft. long or more: 

 leaves linear- to oblong-lanceolate, % — 1% in. long, acute or obtuse: fl. 

 sessile or pedicellate: calyx 3 — 5 lines long, the lobes purple: stamens 

 numerous. — Lower San Joaquin, Bioletli. 



3. TETRAGONIA, Linn. Perennial, with alternate plane fleshy 

 leaves and axillary greenish apetalous flowers. Calyx 4-cleft, adherent 

 to the ovary, 4— 8-horned; the lobes yellowish within. Stamens several. 

 Styles 3—8; ovary 3— 8-celled. Fruit osseous, nut-like, indehiscent, 

 3 — 8-celled, the cells 1-seeded. 



1. T. expansa, Murr. Leaves petiolate, rhombic-ovate, acute or 

 acuminate, entire, more or less crystalline-papillose, 1 — 2 in. long: fl. 

 sessile, 1—3 in each axil: fr. 4-horned, about ^ in. long, scarcely as 

 broad.— Beaches of San Francisco Bay, in Marin and Alameda counties. 



