16S 
CALYCIFLOItAS. 
naked stems and branches continue, having at their ends 
the circle of hairs marking the insertion of the flowers, so 
as to resemble an actual flower, being the “ cajntulo to - 
mentoso” of Sloane. Petals 5, connected at the base, 
rather large, obcordate. Stamens about 20. Style 3-5- 
cleft with the divisions spreading. Capsule small : the 
upper circumcised portion membranaceous : inferior and 
persistent portion cup-shaped, filled with minute black 
seed. 
Towards Christmas, the naked heath-like stems may be 
observed, destitute of leaves, scarred, and bearing at the 
extremity of each branch an expanded cottony head, giv- 
ing a rather remarkable and puzzling appearance. 
4. Portulaca pilosa. Crimson-flowered Purs- 
lane. 
Stem diffuse, joints pilose, leaves alternate li- 
neari-lanceolate, floral leaves subverticillate, flow- 
ers at the ends of the branches sessile surrounded 
by a long villosity. 
Portulacae affinis, folio subrotundo, flore pentapetalo di- 
lute purpureo. Sloane I. 205? — Anacampserus supina 
minor foliis linearibus turgidis, Browne, 234 — Portulaca 
pilosa, Gcertner de Fruct. II. 212. t. 128 f. 4. — Bot. 
Reg. 792. 
11 A B. Waste places. 
F L. Throughout the year, after rains. 
The flowers are purple, opening in the morning and 
closing about one or two o’clock in the afternoon. Calyx 
bipartite: sepals margined. Petals inserted on an annular 
disk, obovate, emarginate, mucronate, patent. Stamens 
30-40 : filaments crimson, capillary : anthers oval, yellow, 
bursting at the sides. Seeds numerous, reniform, of a 
shining black appearance with the surface granular. 
This is a native of, small sandy Islands or Iveys out- 
side of Port- Royal. ^Sloane states that his plant was to 
be found in the streets of Spanish TowriT] It is cultivated 
in our gardens as a border, and is frequently to be found 
in waste grounds near houses. The leaves are intensely 
bitter to the taste, and have been used as a diuretic and 
stomachic, as well as an emmenagogue. — The French 
call it Fourpier poils. 
