All the species contained in this genus are natives of North America, and most of them are annuals, with very showy flowers. The genera _Loasa_ and _Caiophora_ are covered with glandular hairs or bristles, which sting much worse than those of the nettle. _Bartonia aurea_ is one of the most splendid annuals in cultivation, from its golden yellow flowers; _Blumenbachia_ has the fruit roundish and spirally twisted, and _Caiophora_ has the fruit horn-shaped, and twisted in a similar manner. This curious construction of the fruit may be seen in _C. punicea_, the well known showy climber, generally called _Loasa aurantiaca_, or _lateritia_. The fruit of the true kinds of Loasa is plain and not twisted, as may be seen in _L. nitida_, _L. Placei_, and in short in all the other species of the genus. The flowers of most of the plants in this order are very curiously constructed, there being two sets of petals quite distinct in form and colour, and two sets of stamens. The five outer petals are large and hooded, and in each is cradled a bundle of four or more stamens. These petals and stamens are turned back; but there is a second set of five petals which are generally blotched with red, which stand erect, and enclose a second set of stamens also erect, which surround the style. ORDER LXXXVIII.—TURNERIACEÆ. The only genus in British gardens is Turnera, and the species are hothouse and greenhouse herbaceous plants, with flowers very like those of the Bladder Ketmia. On examination, however, it will be immediately seen that they do not belong to the Mallow tribe, as their stamens are distinct, whereas those of all the Malvaceæ are united into a central column. ORDER LXXXIX.—PORTULACEÆ.—THE PURSLANE TRIBE. The ornamental plants belonging to this order, are all included in the genera Calandrinia, Portulaca, Talinum, and Claytonia; and those belonging to the first two of these genera have very showy flowers. In all the species the flowers have a distinct calyx, generally of only two sepals, which remains on till the seeds are ripe; and a corolla of five regular petals, which close in the absence of the sun. Each flower has numerous stamens, and a single style with a broad-lobed stigma which, is succeeded by a dry, one-celled capsule, with a central placenta, to which are attached numerous seeds. The capsule opens naturally when ripe by splitting into three or four valves. But the most distinctive mark by which plants belonging to this order can be distinguished from others with similarly shaped flowers, is their remarkably thick fleshy leaves, an example of which may be seen in the leaves of _Calandrinia discolor_; and these succulent leaves render all the ornamental plants belonging to the order peculiarly liable to be destroyed by frost or damp. Some botanists make a second order out of the plants usually included in Portulaceæ, to which they give the name of Fouquieraceæ. ORDER XC.—PARONYCHIEÆ.