18. (11.) Petals (or petaloid staminodes) numerous. Stamens numerous. Ovary 4-20-celled, with many basal or parietal ovules. Fruit a capsule.--Species 330. Some of them have edible fruits or seeds or serve as vegetables, as ornamental or medicinal plants, or for making soda. =Mesembrianthemum= L. Petals (or petaloid staminodes) none. Ovary 2-8-celled with one pendulous ovule in each cell, or ovary 1-celled. Fruit a nut or drupe. Leaves alternate. 19 19. Ovary 1-celled. Styles 4, two of them shorter than the others and without a stigma.--Species 1. South-west Africa (Namaland). =Anisostigma= Schinz Ovary 2-8-, very rarely 1-celled. Styles as many as ovary-cells.--Species 35. Southern and Central Africa. One species (_T. expansa_ Murr., New Zealand spinach) is cultivated as a vegetable in various regions. =Tetragonia= L. SUBORDER PORTULACINEAE FAMILY 73. PORTULACACEAE Herbs or undershrubs, rarely shrubs. Flowers regular or nearly so, hermaphrodite. Sepals 2, free or united at the base, imbricate in the bud. Petals 4-6, free or united at the base, falling off very early. Stamens as many as and opposite the petals, or fewer, or more numerous. Ovary usually superior and 1-celled. Ovules basal or affixed to a free central placenta, curved, the micropyle lateral or inferior. Style 2-8-cleft or parted, rarely (_Portulaca_) undivided. Fruit a capsule or a nut. Seeds albuminous; embryo more or less curved.--Genera 6, species 35. (Plate 44.) 1. Ovary inferior or half-inferior. Ovules numerous. Fruit dehiscing by a lid.--Species 12. Some are used as vegetables, fodder-, medicinal, or ornamental plants. “Purslane.” [Tribe PORTULACEAE.] =Portulaca= L. Ovary superior. Fruit dehiscing by valves or indehiscent. [Tribe CALANDRINIEAE.] 2 2. Ovary 2-celled with 2 ovules in each cell. Style-branches 2. Stamens numerous. Shrubs.--Species 2. Madagascar. =Talinella= Baill. Ovary 1-celled with 1, 3, or many ovules. Style-branches 3. 3 [Illustration: AIZOACEAE. _FLOW. PL. AFR._ _Pl. 43._ J. Fleischmann del. Trianthema pentandrum L. _A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Flower. _C_ Flower cut lengthwise. _D_ Mericarp cut lengthwise.] [Illustration: PORTULACACEAE. _FLOW. PL. AFR._ _Pl. 44._ J. Fleischmann del. Talinum cuneifolium Willd. _A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise. _C_ Fruit. _D_ Seed.] 3. Ovule 1. Stamens 4-7. Petals reddish. Fruit indehiscent. Shrubs.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental or fodder-plants. =Portulacaria= Jacq. Ovules 3 or more. Stamens 3 or 8-30. Fruit 3-valved. Herbs or undershrubs. 4 4. Ovules 3. Stamens 3. Corolla 5-cleft, slightly irregular, white. Calyx persistent.--Species 1. North Africa and subantarctic islands. Used as a vegetable. =Montia= L. Ovules numerous. Stamens 8-30. Corolla of 5 free or almost free petals, regular. Calyx deciduous. 5