276 LXIV. CRASSULACE^. Sedum. 



with a spadix (cephalium), which is cylindric, tuberculate, densely tomentose, 

 bearing the red flowers at summit, t 



Order LXII. MESEMBRYACE^.— Ficoids. 



Plants fleshy, of singular and various forms, yet often beautiful. 



Lvs. mostly opposite, thick and oddly shaped. [tion. 



Fls. solitary, axillary and terminal, remarkable for their profusion, numerous, brilliant, and of long dura- 



Cal. — Sepals vao'ing from 4 to 8, but usually 5, somewhat connected at base. 



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



Sta. indefinite, distinct, arising from the calyx. 



Ova. inferior or nearly superior, many-celled. Stigmas numerous. 



Caps, many-celled, opening in a stellate manner at the apex. 



Sds. more commonly indefinite, attached to the inner angle of the cells. 



Genera 5, species 375, chiefly natives of the arid, sandy plains of the Cape of Good Hope. The species 

 are much cultivated for ornament. 



• MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. 



Gr. iiearifiPpia, mid-day, av^os ] flowers expanding at midday. 



Character essentially the same as that of the order. 



1. M. CRYSTALLlNUM. Ice-platit. — i?^. biennial ; lvs. large, ovate, acute, wavy, 

 frosted, 3- veined beneath. — A popular house plant, from Greece, It has a 

 creeping stem, If or more in length, and, with the leaves, is covered over with 

 frcst-like, warty protuberances, giving the plant a very singular aspect. Flowers 

 white, appearing all summer, -f 



2. M. coRDiFOLiUM. HeaH-Jeaved Ice-plant. — Procumbent, spreading; lvs. 

 petiolate, opposite, cordate- ovate ; ca/. 4-cleft, 2-horned. — Tj. An interesting plant 

 in house cultivation, from Cape Good Hope. The whole plant fleshy and suc- 

 culent like others of its kind. Flowers pink-colored. Cah^x thick, green, the 

 horns opposite. Capsule translucent, marked at summit wifh cruciform lines, j- 



Order LXIY. CRASSULACE^.— Houseleeks. 



Plants herbaceous or shrubby, succulent. Lvs. entire or pinnatifid. Stip, 0. 



Fls. sessile, usually in cymes. 



Cal. — Sepals 3—20, more or less united at base, persistent. 



Cor.— Petals as many as the sepals, distinct, rarely cohering. 



Sta. as many as the petals and alternate with them, or twice as many. 



Ova. as many as the petals and opposite them. Fil. distinct. Anth. 2-celled, bursting lengthwise. 



F?-.— Follicles as many as the ovaries, each opening by the ventral suture, many-seeded. 



Genera 22, species 450. chiefly natives of the warmer regions of the globe, particularly the Cape of Good 

 Hope. About 20 are tound in North America. They grow in the thinnest and drj-est soil, on naked 

 rocks, sandy deserts, &c. Thev have no peculiar property except a slight acridity. Many are highly 

 ornamental. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



J stamens 4 TilleEU. 1 



. Un 4s ; ^ Stamens 8 , . . . Brijophyllum. 5 



I ^ Carpels distinct Sedum. 2 



Un 5s ; stamens 10 ; ( Carpels united. Penthorum. 4 



Floral organs arranged I in I2s Sempervivum. 3 



1. TILL^A. Michx, 



In memory of Mich. Ang. Tilli, an Italian botanist ; died 1740. 



Calyx of 3 or 4 sepals united at base ; petals 3 or 4, equal ; sta- 

 mens 3 or 4 : caps. 3 or 4, distinct, follicular, opening by the inner 

 surface, 2 or riiany-.seeded. — ® Veryminute.) aquatic herbs. Lvs. opposite. 



T, SIMPLEX. Nutt. (T. ascendens. Eaton.) Pigmy-weed. 



St. ascending or erect, rooting at the lower joints ; Im. connate at base, 

 linear-oblong, fleshy; /s. axillar}', solitary, subsessile, their parts in 4s; pet. 

 oval or oblong; carpels 8 — lO-seeded. — Near East Rock, New Haven, Ct. (Dr. 

 Bobbins), and Philadelphia, on muddy banks, rare. Stem 1—3' high. Leaves 

 2 — 3" long. Flowers as large as a pin's head. Petals oval, flat, acute, twice 

 as long as the oval, minute calyx, longer than the stamens and fruit, and of a 

 greeni.sh-white color. Jl. — Sepf. 



2. SEDUM, 



Lat. sedere, to sit ; the plants, growing on bare rocks, look as if sitting there. . 



Sepals 4 — 5, united at base ; petals 4 — 5, distinct ; stamens 8 — 



