24 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



angmte spatbulata v. oblanceolata acuta rarius subapiculata v. obfcnsa, ramulorum saepe 

 filiformia pluriiiuoe ad nodum quenique fasciculata. Stipidw liiinutaa margine scarios;e 

 fimbriata?. Florcs sessiles in spicas densas breves paucifloras apice rhacbium longorum 

 rectoruni cougestas dispositi ; bracteolas fusco-rufae late ovatae medio nervo promineute, 

 margine subscariosa? basi fimbriate. Sepala £-^ poll, longa ovato-acuta medio nervo 

 herbaceo, margine basi late scarioso-alata, rufa. Petala sepalis subaquilonga apice anguste 

 dentata. Staminum filamenta basi ampliata ; antberae inagnae nlamentis dimidio breviores. 

 Stylus ovario longior. C'apsula petalis breviora. 



Socotra. On the plains beyond Tamarida and elsewhere ; not uncommon. 

 B.C.S. n. 683. 



A very distinct perennial, with a luzuloid habit. It varies somewhat with 

 its locality. In some specimens from dry and stony spots the stems are gnarled, 

 hard, brittle, prostrate, and very glaucous, clothed with but few leaves, and 

 having annual shoots only two or three inches long. On the other hand, when 

 from more penetrable ground, the stems are thin, flexible, and straggling, 

 bearing delicate, straight, almost capillary branchlets a foot or more high. 



Order X. PORTULACE.E. 



A small family of shrubs or under-shrubs frequently succulent, chiefly 

 characteristic of America, with a few confined to South Africa and Australia, 

 and some spread in the old world. 



1. PORTULACA. 



Portulaca, Linn. Gen. n. 603 ; Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. i. 156. 



A small genus of herbs, most of which are American, but a few are weeds of 

 wide range in tropical countries,, and extend into temperate regions. 



1. P. oleracea, Linn. Sp. 638 ; Boiss. Flor. Orient, i. 757 ; Oliv. Flor. 

 Trop. Afr. i. 148 ; Dyer in Hook. Flor. Brit. Ind. i. 246. 



Socotra. Abundant. B.C.S. n. 12. 

 Disteib. A common tropical weed. 



2. P. quadriflda, Linn. Mant. 73 ; Boiss. Flor. Orient, i. 757 ; Oliv. Flor. 

 Trop. Afr. i. 149 ; Dyer in Hook. Flor. Brit. Ind. i. 247 ; Wight Illustr. t. 109. 



Socotra. Abundant. B.C.S. n. 601. Schweinf. n. 724 ; Hunt. n. 6. 

 Distrib. A common old world tropical weed. 



2. TALINUM. 

 Taltnum, Adans. ex Juss. Gen. 312 ; Bentb. et Hook. Gen. PI. i. 157. 



A small ,^enus of herbs of warm and tropical regions ; all American except a 

 few, which are Asiatic or African. 



