260 , XXVII. POETULACE^. 



Flowbks 2 . Corolla 0, or petals sometimes coherent at the hase, very fugacious. 

 Stamens hypogynous or perigynous, equal and alternate with the calyx-lohes, or double, 

 triple, or multiple in number. Ovaet usually free, rarely inferior, 1-8-eelled. Pruit 

 indehiscent, or a pyxidium, or a loculicidal capsule. Embryo peripheric, arched or 

 annular, surrounding a floury albumen. 



Herbaceous annuals or perennials, often suffruticose or fruticose; stem and 

 branches diffuse, glabrous or with simple rarely stellate or hooked hairs. Leaves 

 alternate or opposite, very various in form, entire, sessile or sub-sessile, often fleshy, 

 with a single nerve, or nerveless, sometimes stipulate. Flowers ? , usually regular 

 and axillary, solitary or variously disposed, sestivation imbricate. Calyx diphyllous, 

 or monosepalous with 2, 3, 4, 5 divisions. Petals 5, 4, 3, hypogynous, or rarely 

 sub-epigynous {Portulaca), distinct, or connate at the base, very tender and fugacious, 

 often 0. Stamens 1-co , inserted on the receptacle or on the calyx, free or in 

 bundles ; filaments filiform or subulate ; anthers introrse, dehiscence longitudinal. 

 Disk hypogynous, girding the base of the ovary, very often inconspicuous. Ovary 

 sessile, usually free, sometimes half-inferior {Portulaca), 1-5-celled, cells 1-few-many- 

 ovuled ; style terminal, with 2-8 branches, stigmatiferous on their inner surface ; 

 ovules semi-anatropous, rarely solitary in the 1-celled ovaries (Portulacaria) , usually 

 nximerous, inserted by separate funicles on a central free placenta, or pendulous to 

 funicles ascending from the bottom of the cell ; in the many-celled ovaries 1 or few 

 or many in each cell, attached to the central angle throughout its length, or to its 

 centre or top. Petjit a dehiscent capsule, or rarely indehiscent {Portulacaria). 

 Seeds reniform, ovoid, globose or lenticular ; albumen floury. Embryo peripheric, 

 curved or annular, surrounding the albumen ; cotyledons incumbent ; radicle facing 

 the hilum. 



Tribe L OALANDBINIEJE. 



Calyx diphyllous, or 2 -partite or 2-3-fid. Petals 5, 4, 3, hypogynous, distinct, 

 sometimes more or less connate into a tube {Montia) . Stamens fewer or more than 

 the sepals, or indefinite, hypogynous, inserted alone or in bundles at the base of the 

 petals ; filaments free, or united at the base. Ovary 1-celled, few-several-many- 

 ovuled, placentation basilar or free, central ; style filiform, 2-5-fid. Capsule 2-5- 

 valved. — Herbaceous or frutescent plants. Leaves alternate or opposite, often 

 fleshy, sometimes furnished with intrafoliar stipules cut into hairs or lacinise. 

 Flowers solitary, or collected into racemes, or into axillary or terminal cymes. 



PEl!<iCIPAL GENERA. 



Portulacaria, Anacampsei-os. Talinum. 



•Calanclrinia. •Claytonia. Montia. 



Tribe II. SESUVIE^. 



Calyx 5-fid, rarely 2-fid or -partite. Petals 0, or rarely 4-6, and epigynous 

 {Portulaca). Stamens 6-10-co , inserted singly or in pairs, or in bundles, at the 

 base or throat of the calyx, and between its sesrments. Ovarv free, ra.rel-p inferior 



