PORTULACACEAE 2 1 1 



Ecology. The flowers of Anacampseros (Sect. Telephi- 



astrmri) are showy (pink), but very fugacious, opening 



only for a few hours (afternoon) in bright sunlight. Those 



of A. papyracea and the other members of the section 



Avonia are cleistogamous, for, although provided with 



large rose-coloured petals, they very rarely emerge from 



between the papery stipules of the apical leaves, but seed 



regularly all the same, being evidently self- pollinated. 



Those of the other species are visited by various flies and 



bees. 



Portulaca oleracea is a common weed. Purslane; 

 postelein; varkenskost . 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



A. Ovary superior. 



a. Ovules oo ; capsule co -seeded, splitting lengthways. 



I. Seeds wingless ; embryo circular. 



Several S. A. species (E., No.). Flor. Cap. n, 385. 



1. Talinum Adans. 



II. Seeds winged ; embryo nearly straight. 



Endemic. 12 species. Flor. Cap. 11, 382. 



2. Anacampseros L. 



b. Ovary i-ovuled. 



I. Flowers bisexual. Fruit a winged nutlet, 1 -seeded. 



Endemic. 1 # species {P. afrd) SE. 

 Flor. Cap. 11, 385. 



3. Portulacaria Jacq. 



II. Plant dioecious. Fruit (when ripe), fleshy, not winged. 



3 species. Shrubs. Nam. 



4. Ceraria Pears. <y Stephens 



B. Ovary half-inferior. Capsule membranous, circumscissile. 



3 species in S. A. (Flor. Cap. n, 381.) 



5. Portulaca L. 



* Prof. H. H. W. Pearson and Miss E. L. Stephens have removed P. namaquensis 

 Sond. from this genus to the newly established genus Ceraria. Annals S. A. Museum, 

 Vol. ix, 32 (1912). 



