PORTULACACE.E. 55 



peduncles bending down as the fruit ripens. Petals white, longer than the calyx. 

 Capsule, twice as long. Seeds numerous with a narrow margin. 



12. SPERGULARIA. Persoon. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 2 to 10. Styles 

 and valves of the many-seeded capsule 3, or if 5 the valves 

 alternate with the sepals. — Low herbs, with flesh?/ opposite 

 leaves, scaly membranous stipules, and small red or rose colored 

 flowers. 



S. rubra, Pers. Common Sandwort. 



Stem prostrate, pilose much branched; leaves narrow, linear, or filiform, Rome- 

 what fleshy, shorter than the interncd3s; sepals lanceolate, somewhat obtuse, 

 Ecarious on the margin; seeds compressed, roughish, not margined. 



Sandy fields, near brackish water. June — Sept. Annual. Stems 3 to 10 inches 

 long, at first erect at length diffuse, smooth or piibescent. Leaves variable in 

 length and form. Flowers small, red, axillary and solitary, in terminal leafy 

 cymes or racemes. A very variable plant. Armaria rubra of Linn. 



Sub-order IV. SCLERANTHEiE. 



Small diffusely branched plants, with opposite leaves, 

 without stipules and small flowers. Sepals united into an 

 indurated tube surrounding the utricle ; the stamens inserted 

 at the throat. 



13. SCLEKANTHUS. Linn. Knawel. 



Gr. slcleros, hard, and a'nthos, flower, from the hardened calyx tube. 



Sepals 5 united below in an indurated cup, inclosing the 

 1-seeded utricle. Petals none. Stamens 5 or 10. Styles 

 2 distinct. — Homely and: inconspicuous little weeds, with 06- 

 scure greenish clustered flowers. 



S. annuus, L. Annual Knawel. 



Depressed tufted. Stems spreading, slightly pubescent; leaves awl-shapcd, some- 

 what united at the bast ; flowers nearly sessile; stamens 10; calyx of the fruit 

 Bpreading, acute. 



Waste places and sandy fields, introdiiced. July. Annual. Stems numerous, 

 much branched in a dichotomous manner, forming tufts, 3 to 6 inches in diameter, 

 Flowers very small, green in axillary leafy clusters. 



Order 21. PORTULAGACEJE. 



Succulent or fleshy herbs, with alternate or opposite entire leaves, destitute of proper 

 stipules, and usually ephemeral flowers. Calyx mostly of 2 sepals. Corolla of 5 

 petals. Stamens 8 to 20. Styles 3 to 6 united below, stigmatic along the inner 

 Bide. Capsule 1-celled. Seeds attached to a central placenta; albumen mealy. 



