XXVII. PORTULACE^. 261 



(Portulaca), 1-5-celled, many-ovuled ; ovules ascending, fixed 'to a basilar placenta, 

 or pendulous to tlie central angle of the cells ; stigmas 2-5. Capsule opening trans- 

 versely by circular dehiscence.— Fleshy glabrous herbs with opposite or alternate 

 leaves, often stipulate, or bearing stipuliform hairs in the leaf-axils. Flowers axil- 

 lary, sessile, solitary, or glomerate, in spiked or umbelled cymes. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 •Portulaca. Sesuvium.i Triantbema. 



Tribe III. AIZOIDEJS. 



Calyx 4-5-fid or -partite. Corolla 0. Stamens 5-15, inserted singly or in pairs, or 

 in bundles, on the calyx, between its segments. Ovary free, with 2-5 I-2-oo -ovuled 

 cells; ovules pendulous to the central angle of the cells; stigmas 5-2. Capsule 

 loculicidal. — Herbaceous or frutescent plants, covered with simple or bi-acuminate 

 hairs. Leaves alternate or opposite. Flowers axillary, sessile. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Aizoon. Galenia. Plinthus. 



Allied Tribe. MOLLTJQINEM. 



Calyx 5-4-partite, or 5-fid, persistent. Petals 0, or very numerous, ligulate, 

 sub-perigynous. Stamens hypogynous or perigynous, equal and alternate with the 

 sepals, or fewer, or more, or indefinite, distinct, or aggregated in bundles, the outer 

 alternate with the calyx:-segments. Ovary free, many-ovuled, 2-3-5-celled ; ovules 

 fixed to the inner angle of the cells by separate funicles, or rarely solitary and 

 basilar [Acrosanthes) . Capsule usually angular or compressed, loculicidal. Seeds as 

 in PoriMZacecB.— Herbaceous or sub-woody plants, glabrous, or covered with stellate 

 hairs. Leaves opposite or alternate, or fascicled and psendo-whorledj often stipulate. 

 Flowers crowded in racemes or cymes, or in axillary or leaf-opposed umbellules, 

 rarely solitary {Acrosanthes). 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Orygia. Gleinus. Molliigo. Phamaceum. Acrosanthes. 



Psamnotrophe. Adenogramme. Giesekia. Limeum. 



PortulacecB approach Tetragoniece, MesembryantkemecB, and ParonycMece (see these families). The 

 tribe of MoUwginace is also connected with Portulaceee by habit, the entire fleshy leaves, inflorescence, 

 perigynous corolla, often 0, the isostemonous or indefinite stamens, distinct or aggregated into bundles 

 alternate with the sepals, and especially by the structure of the ovule and the nature of the albumen. 



' In Bentham and Hooker's ' Genera Plantariim,' celled ovary, is placed with the other AUoidece under 



Portidaca, from its disepalous calyx and 1-celled ovary, Ficoidea, and referred to the Calycifloral sub-order of 



is regarded as a very close ally of Montia and the other Dicotyledons. No doubt the Wieoidem and Fortulacea 



disepalous Pnrtvlaccm, included in this work under the are members of one great group (which should also 



tribe Calandriniece ; whilst Sesuviiim (and Trianthema) include Tetragoniets), hvit the exigencies of a linear clas- 



with its 5-m?rous isomerous perianth and. several- sification .render it convenient to keep them apart. — En. 



