PORTULACACE.E. J39 



membranaceous, opposite the sepals when they are equal in number. 

 Seeds indefinitely numerous (at least in pentamerous capsules), lenti- 

 cular, with a perfectly smooth and even testa. Embryo curved into 

 almost a complete ring around the farinaceous albumen. — The panicle, 

 at first terminal, often becomes lateral or alar by the development of 

 branches from its base, which overtop it. 



Plate 11, B. — Schiedea diffusa. Fig. 8. Capsule, with the per- 

 sistent calyx, filaments, &c. 9. A seed. 10. The seed vertically 

 divided, showing the embryo coiled around the albumen. — The details 

 all more or less magnified. 



Ord portulacace^. 



1. PORTULACA, Tourn. 



1. PORTULACA OLERACEA, Linn. 

 Portulaca lutea, Soland. in Forst. PI. Esc. Ins. Austr. p. 72 (abs. char.). 



Hab. Clermont Tonnerre, Wake's, Gardiner's, Binney's, and other 

 Coral Islands. Navigators' Islands. 



This is enumerated in Dr. Pickering's list under the name of Portu- 

 laca lutea of Forster, which it undoubtedly is, as distinguished from 

 the P. oleracea; but the specimens do not furnish any tangible dis- 

 tinctive characters. I find no specimens from the Society Islands, but 

 Dr. Pickering mentions "P. oleracea (not lutea)" as an introduced 

 plant there, growing in cultivated grounds. 



