CRASSULACE^. 93 



ORDER 147. CRASSULACE.E. The Houseleek 



Tribe. 



Divisions of the calyx 3 - 20, somewhat united at their base, 

 and originating the corolla of separate petals, or monopetalous ; 

 stamens once or twice as many as the petals and rising also from 

 the calyx ; several hypogynous scales ; ovaries as many as the 

 petals ; mostly succulent plants ; flowers in cymes. 



This is a large tribe of plants, of which 133 are found at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, 15 in North America, 52 in Europe, and 

 about 70 more scattered over the earth. Only a few species in- 

 habit this State. The properties are sometimes acrid ; many are 

 refrigerant and abstergent ; seem not to be of great value. 



Penthorum. L. 10. 5. 



P. sedoides. L. Virginia Stem Crop. The genus is named 

 from the 5-marked angles of the capsule ; and the specific name 

 from its resemblance to Sedum. A plant of no consequence ; a 

 native of this country. 



Stem a foot or more high, branched and angular above ; leaves 

 alternate and lanceolate ; flowers white or yellowish, in a terminal 

 1 -sided raceme ; wet grounds ; July. Plant scarcely succulent. 



Sedum. L. 10. 5. 



Named from the Latin to sit, from the manner of growth upon 

 rocks, as if sitting upon them. Loudon. A pretty large genus, 

 having but few species in this country. 5 small seed-vessels with 

 a scale at their base, and the divisions of the calyx often swelled 

 and leafy. 



S. Telephium. W. Stone Crop. Stem branching, with flat, 

 alternate, ovate leaves, somewhat acute at both ends ; flowers in 

 a fascicled corymb, pale purple ; rocks ; July ; eastern part of 

 the State. This is doubtless the S. telephioides, Mx., varieties 

 of the same plant, common to Europe and this country. 



Several other species of Sedum are cultivated. 



