Purslane with leaves between lance and egg-shaped, without foot-stalks, flat; panicle branching and terminal; flowers red.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement and Pointal.
2. A Chive, magnified.
3. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit.
4. The Seed-vessel nearly ripe, and the cup.
5. A ripe Capsule, cut transversely.
6. A Seed, magnified.
We now exhibit a plant which may, perhaps, be known by many, under the name of Portulaca, rather than that of Talinum. But, as the adoption of this new formed genus, upon a division of the species which have capsules of a different construction, from the old generic character of Portulaca, seems generally to obtain, amongst modern botanists; such as Jussieu, Cavanilles, Willdenow, &c. we shall not dissent; although we, at the same time, take the liberty to say, from the particular tendency of the old genus Portulaca, to vary in most parts of the flower, both as to number and character, we have taken up the present genus, but reluctantly. This plant is a native of the West Indies, and is, by some, considered as an annual; whilst by others it is treated of as a shrub; but, indeed, it partakes of both characters, in some measure; for the stem generally decays down, near to the earth, and often the whole plant dies, after flowering. It grows to the height of two feet, half of which is formed of the flower-stem. It makes a very gay appearance about August, and seeds abundantly. Our figure was taken from a plant in the collection of J. Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore; where it flowers, annually, in the highest perfection. Introduced, says the Kew Catalogue, by Chevalier Murray, in the year 1776.[Pg 442]
