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TALINUM ciLiATUM. 
Ciliated Talinum. 
POLYANDRIA (DODECANDRIA) MONOGYNIA, WW—Nat. Ord. 
PORTULACE^. 
Gen. Char. — Calyx di-pentaphyllus. Capsula supera, tri- sex-valvis, unilo- 
cularis, polysperma. — Sm. in Rees. 
Talinum ciliatum; foliis lineari-siibspathulatis ciliatis, floribus corym- 
boso-racemosis bracteatis, caule angulato. 
T. ciliatum^ " Ruiz et Pav. Fl. Chil. et Per." — Pers. Syn. PI. v. ii. p. 7. 
An annual plant, as it appears, of about a foot and a half in height. Stems 
erect or decumbent, weak, angular, red and branched below, above green- 
ish, scarcely and only here and there pilose. Leaves scattered, from one 
and a half to three inches long, linear, frequently subspathulate, acute, 
more or less patent, the extremities frequently recurved, the upper surface 
channelled, the lower subcarinated, especially near the base, where it is 
reddish, the margin distinctly ciliated. 
Florvers at first in terminal leafy corymbs, at length in racemes, of a bright 
and deep purple, pedicellated. Pedicels about half an inch long, thick- 
ened upwards, subpilose at their base, which is decurrent, having a large 
leaf-like bractea, and near that generally another much smaller and ap- 
pressed one. Calyx of two triangular, thickish, green, subpilose, waved 
leaflets, with their margins more or less incurved, which are erect in the 
bud, somewhat spread in flower, and which at length persist, enlarge 
and enclose the fruit. Corolla of five broadly ovate and slightly notched 
petals. Stamens from ten to fifteen in number. Filaments subulate, 
purplish, hairy. Anthers adverse, ovate, of two cells, pale purplish, 
scarcely longer than the stigma, and shorter than the petals. Pol- 
len yellow. Pistil almost entirely surrounded and concealed by the 
stamens. Germen roundish, green, glabrous. Style shortish, thick. 
Stigma capitate, with three or four deep purple, velvety, obtuse, spread- 
ing rays. Capsule ovate, enclosed in the calyx, opening with three or 
four rather obtuse valves. Seeds numerous, ovate, compressed, dotted, 
black, shining, collected into the centre, and fixed to the base by as 
many distinct filaments incrassated upwards, as there are seeds. Embryo 
cylindrical, curved, and enclosing the albumen in its centre. 
VOL. I. 
