MESEMBRYANTHEMACE^,, 146 MESEMBRYANTHEMDM. 



These are the more common or favorite species, but many others are occa- 

 sionally reared in the parlor or the green-house, — so many^that it would trans- 

 cend our limits to notice them individually. The cultivation of the Cacti, 

 which is rapidly becoming a popular amusement, is nearly the same for all 

 the species. The cuttings should be left for several days, or even weeks, 

 exposed to the air until they are shrivled. ]f then potted, they root immedi- 

 ately. The pots should be small, and well drained with fragments of earthern 

 or brick at the bottom. The best soil is sandy loam, or loam mixed with grav- 

 el. They require but little water, and a free, open air, when the temperature 

 will allow it. 



ORDER LXIII.MESEMBRYANTHEMACE/E./«.;,Za7T«rriA.. 



CaL — Sepals varyinj!: from 4 to 8, but usually 5, somewliat connected at base. 



Cor. — Petals indefinite, colored, m many rows. 



Sta. — Indefinite, distinct, arising' from the calyx. 



Oca. — Inferior or nearly superior, many-celled. Stigmas numerous. 



Caps. — Many-celled, openin{>- in a stellate manner at the apex. ' 



ads. — More commonly indefinite, attached to the inner angle of the cells. 



The greater part of the plants of tliis order are natives of the hot, sandy plains of the Cape 

 of Good Hope. A few are found in S. Europe, N. Africa, &c., and only one genus, Sesu- 

 vium, along the sea shore of the Middle and Southern Slates. 



MESEMBRYA'NTHEMUM. 



Calyx S-cleft; petals many, linear; capsule fleshy, turbin- 

 ate, inferior, many-seeded. 



Gr. f/,i(rrifA,i3Qi,u., the mid-day, avSoi, flower; because the plants open their 

 flowers about that time. Exotic. Mostly herbs, thick and fleshy. 



1. M. CRYSTALLINUM. 



Leaves large, ovate, acute, wavy, frosted, 3-nerved beneath; root biennial, 

 A popular house plant, from Greece. It has a creeping stem a foot or more 

 in length, which, together with the leaves, is covered over with numerous, 

 frosty, warty protuberances, giving the plant a very singular aspect. Flow- 

 ers white, appearing all summer. Ice-plant. 



2. M. cordifo'lium. 



Leaves petiolate, cordate-ovate ; stems procumbent, spreading ; calyx 4-clefl, 

 2-horned. An interesting little plant, well known in house cultivation, native 

 of Cape Good Hope. The whole plant fleshy and succulent like others of 

 its kind. Howers pink-colored. Calyx thick, green, the horns opposite. 

 Capsule translucent, marked on the suimnit with cruciform lines. 



Heart-leaved Ice-plant, 



The numerous species of this extensive genus, says I^oudon, are sino-ular 

 yet beautiful, and some even splendid plants. Their leaves are of odd shapes, 

 and the habits of most are slovenly and insignificant, though some are grotesque. 

 But the flowers make ample amends by their profusion, brilliancy of color 

 and the length of time they continue in bloom. Few are annual, fewer bien- 

 nial, many perennial, but most Ure shrubby, especially at base. Leaves most- 

 ly opposite, thick or succulent, of various forms. Flowers solitary, axillary, 

 supra-axillary, and more frequently terminal, The hardy sorts will grow in 

 the open air if protected during- winter. 



