FICOIDE;E. 
171 
I. Sesuvium. 
Calyx 5-partite, persistent, coloured on the in* 
ner surface. Petals O . Stamens 15-30. Ovary 
free, sessile. Style O . Stigmata 3-5. Capsule 
3-rarely 4-5-celled, circumcised, with the placen- 
tary axis persistent : seeds numerous. 
Name probably from ceiu to agitate, in allusion to the 
species growing in the vicinity of the restless waters of 
the ocean. 
1. Sesuvium portulacastrum. Sea-side Purs- 
lane. 
Leaves lanceolato-oblong plane, flowers pedun- 
cled. 
Portulaca aizoides maritima, flore purpureo, Sloane, I. 
204. — Aizoon repens, Browne, 241. — Sesuvium portula- 
castrum, Jacq Arner. 155. t. 05. — Swartz, Obs. 204. 
II All. Sea-shore, common. 
F L. Throughout the year. 
A perennial succulent plant, 6-12 inches or more in 
height : stem ascending, diffuse, branched. Leaves very 
shortly petiolate, narrowing towards the base, obtuse, 
plane, succulent, slightly convex on both sides, an inch 
and a half in length. Peduncles axillary, solitary, about 
two lines in length, bearing a rather showy flower. Se- 
pals broad-ovate, externally green, internally crimson. 
Stamens upwards of 30: filaments subulate: anthers 
didymous. Styles 3-4, two lines in length : stigmata sim- 
ple. Capsule 3-celled, circumcised about the middle : 
seeds many, black. 
This is a common plant along all the shores of the 
Caribean Sea. It has received from the French the 
name of Pompier bord de Mer. It has been proposed to 
obtain an alkali from this plant. Sloane informs ns that 
when pickled, it affords a good substitute for the common 
samphire. Dancer speaks highly of the decoction, as a 
gargle. 
