Root fibrous. Stein from 1 to 4 inches long, much branched, 
somewhat angular, leafy, spreading on the ground, and sending 
out radical fibres from the lower part, the upper part often upright. 
Leaves small, opposite, sessile or on very short stalks, elliptic-spear- 
shaped, entire, rather fleshy, smooth, and of a pale green colour. 
Peduncles ( flower-stalks ) generally growing three together, each 
supporting one flower, proceeding from a little scale in the bosom 
of the leaves, at first drooping, but afterwards becoming upright 
and longer than the leaves. Corolla very small, white, of 1 petal, 
which is deeply cut into 5 segments, the 3 alternate ones the 
smallest, having the stamens attached to them (see fig. 2) . Capsule 
roundish, invested by the enlarged, permanent, truncated calyx 
(see fig. 5). Seeds (fig- 7.) 3, kidney-shaped, black, dotted. The 
valves of the capsule are involute at the margins, and, after the 
seeds are discharged, they become thread-shaped, and a little 
longer than the calyx (see figs. 5 & 6) . 
Whole plant smooth and somewhat succulent. Sometimes the calvx consists 
of 3 sepals, and then the corolla lias 5 stamens instead of 3, as was the case with 
some of the flowers in the specimen figured, (see fig 3). The flowers usually 
appear in a half-opened state, whence one of the English names Blinks, but 
when the sun shines on them they expand. 
A large variety of this plant is figured by Micheli, t- 13. f. 1. This is Montia 
fantana, var. ji. major of Willd. Spec. PI. v. i. p. 415. — Montia repens, of 
Gmelin’s FI. Badensis-Alsatica, v. i. p. 302. — and M. rivularis ot J.oud. Hort. 
Br. p. 37. Sir W. J. Hooker informs us, in his Br. FI. that this variety is not 
uncommon in Scotland, and that it has been found in Anglesey by Mr. Wilson. 
Portula'cea (plants agreeing in important characters with 
Portulaca). The plants which compose this natural order are 
dicotyledonous succulent herbs or shrubs, whose leaves are alternate, 
rarely opposite, entire, usually thick and fleshy, without stipulze, 
or sometimes with membranous ones on each side at the base. 
Their flowers are axillary or terminal, expanding only in bright 
sunshine, and usually of short duration. The calyx (fig. 1.) is 
generally formed of 2, seldom of 3 or 5, sepals, which are more 
or less connected at the base. The corolla (figs. 2 & 3.) is usually 
composed of 5, but occasionally of 3, 4, or 6 petals, which are 
either distinct, or connected at the base into a short tube, so as to 
form a monopetalous corolla, sometimes the petals are wanting. 
The stamens are inserted along with the petals into the base of the 
calyx, and are variable in number, all fertile ; their filaments dis- 
tinct, inserted at the base of the petals, and generally opposite to 
them when the number is equal ; their anthers are versatile, of 
2 cells, which open lengthwise. The ovarium fgermen) (fig. 4.) 
is superior, usually roundish, and 1-celled. The style is sometimes 
single, thread-shaped, and cleft into several stigmas at the apex ; 
sometimes it is wanting, or nearly so ; when this is the case the 
stigmas are distinct, and rise in numbers from the top of the ova- 
rium. The capsule is 1-celled, opening either transversely or by 
the 3 valves from the base to the apex (see fig. 6 ) ; but it is also 
occasionally 1-seeded and indehiscent. The seeds are numerous 
when the fruit is dehiscent, and are attached to the central placenta ; 
the albumen is farinaceous ; and the embryo is curved round the 
circumference of the albumen, with a long radicle, and oblong coty- 
ledons. See Lindl. Syn. and Don's Gen. Syst. of Gard. Sc Bot. 
Montia is the only British example of this order. 
