1 



ECHEVERIA lurida. 



Lurid Echeveria. 



DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 

 Nat. Ord. CrASSULACE^E. 



ECHEVERIA. Botanical Register, vol. 15. #. 1247. 



- UAKDEN 



E. lurida', foliis rosulato-confertis oblongis concavis glaucis discoloribus, 

 racemo apice mitante, floribus peduneulatis. 



This plant is in many respects similar to E. secunda, being- 

 like that species stemless, with the leaves collected into a 

 circular patch, in the manner of a House-leek. It differs how- 

 ever in having longer and more blunt leaves, which are deeply 

 stained with dull purple. The flowers too are a richer scarlet. 



The genera Echeveria, Cotyledon, and another or two of 

 the Crass ulaceous order are truly monopetalous, that is to 

 say, their petals are united by the edges into a single organ ; 

 and yet the Crassulaceous order is arranged in the Polypeta- 

 lous division of the Natural System of Jussieu. What are 

 we to infer from this ? Is it that Echeveria and the others 

 are not Crassulaceous ? or that the distinction between Mono- 

 petalous and Polypetalous structure ought not to be taken 

 as a fundamental character by which to classify plants ? — 

 The latter is surely the inevitable conclusion ; and there 

 can be no doubt that the first step to be taken in arriving at 

 a truly natural system of classification, is to discover some 

 means of dispensing with modifications of so unimportant an 

 organ as the corolla, in framing the distinctive characters of 

 the higher systematic divisions under which the natural 

 orders are to be grouped. 



A hardy greenhouse perennial, requiring about the same 

 treatment as the various species of Fig Marygolds, and 

 smaller Crassulas ; that is, it should be kept in small pots, 

 well drained, and filled with a mixture of leaf-mould and 

 brick-rubbish, covering the surface of the pot with silver sand. 



January, 1841. b 



