PORTULA'CA THELLUSO'NII 
TflELLUSON’S PORTULACA. 
EXOGENiE 
OR 
DICOTYLEDONEiE. 
Natural division 
to which 
this Plant belongs. 
NATURAL ORDER PORTULACE^. 
) 
CALYCIFLOE.E, 
OF 
DECANDOLLE. 
Artificial divisions 
to which 
this Plant beloiigs. 
DODECANDRIA, 
MOXOGTNIA, 
OF LIXNECS. 
No. 239. 
GENUS. PoRTULACA. Tournefort. Calyx tubo cum ovario inferne 
connato, limbo semisupero v. supero,bifido v. bipartito, circumscisse deciduo. 
CoROLL.a5 petalaquatuor-seXjSummocalycis tubo inserta,libera v.imabasi coalita 
integerrima. duo ssepius majora, fugacissima colliquescentia. Stamina 8, v. 
plurima, petalorum imse basi aggregatim inserta; filamenta subulata. AxTHERiE 
biloculares, didymie, loculis ovalibus longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Ovarium 
semi-superum, v. inferum uniloculare. Ovula plurima, columellas basilari 
liberae, simplici v. ramosae funiculis distinctis inserta, amphitropa. Stylus 
tri-octofidus, V. partitus lobis intus stigmatosis. Capsula ovatav. subglobosa, 
membranacea, unilocularis, medio v. infra apicem circumscisse dehiscens, 
placenta basilari. Semina plurima, reniformia, laevia v. striata et granulosa. 
Embryo annularis, albumen farinaceum includens. Herbie carnosee.bumiles, 
inter tropicos Americas copiosae, in veteris orbis regionibus calidis et temperatis 
rarse ; foliis alternis v. oppositis integerrimis teretiusculis v. planis, pilis stipu- 
laribus in axillis congestis, rarius nullis, floribus alaribus v. axillaribus, solitariis, 
remotis v. ad ramorum apices congestis, sessilibus, v. pedicellatis, involuero 
foliorum subverticellatim congestorum nniversali v. partiali rarius proprio tet- 
raphyllo calycem mentiente cinctis, petalis flavis purpureis v. roseis,tenerrimis, 
sole matutino expansis medidiano in gelatinam colliquescentibus. Endlicher . 
Genera Plantarum, p. 949. 
SPECIES. PORTULACA Thellusonii (Lindley) annua, caule erecto, 
axillis filamentosis, foliis alternis subcylindricis acuminatis abtusis, floralibus 
subverticillatis, floribus ad apices ramorum congestis sessilibus, petalis bilobis 
concavis sepalis subsequalibus pluries longioribus. 
Character of the Genus, Portulaca. Calyx with a tube, 
connate beneath with the ovarium, limb semi-superior, or superior- 
bifid, or bipartite, cut round and falling off. Petals of the corolla 
from four to six, inserted in a tube at the top of the calyx, free, or 
joined at the base, entire, two, oftentimes the larger very fugaceous, 
and withering away. Stamens eight, or many, aggregately inserted 
at the base of the petals, filaments subulate. Anthers two-celled, 
didymous, cells ovate, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovarium half¬ 
superior, or inferior, one-celled. Ovula many, free at the base of the 
columella, simple, or branched, funiculus distinct, amphitropous. 
Style trifid, or octifid, or parted lobes inwardly stigmatose. Cap¬ 
sules ovate, or somewhat globose, membranaceous, one-celled, de¬ 
hiscing in the middle or beneath the apex, placenta at the base. 
Seeds many, reniform, smooth, striated or granulose. Embryo annular, 
included within a farinaceous albumen. 
