CHAP. I ] FICOlDEiE. 367 



ORDER XCIL— FICOIDE.E.— THE FIG-MARIGOLD 

 TRIBE. 



The principal genus in this order is that of 

 Mesembrvanthemum, the Fio^-mario^old. In the 

 species of this genus, the leaves are always 

 thick and fleshy, and sometimes in very sin- 

 gular shapes ; and sometimes they are covered 

 with a sort of blistery skin, which makes them 

 look as though covered with ice, as in the Ice- 

 plant (M. cri/stallinum). The leaves, when this 

 is the case, are said to be papulose. Some of 

 the species are annuals, others shrubby, and 

 others perennials ; and they are all natives of 

 the Cape of Good Hope. The flowers, which 

 are generally showy, have a green, fleshy, tubu- 

 lar calyx, w^ith a four or five cleft limb, the tubu- 

 lar part of which encloses the ovary; and a co- 

 rolla of numerous very narrow petals, which are 

 arranged in two or more series. The stamens 

 are very numerous ; and the capsule has four or 

 more cells, each of which contains numerous 

 seeds. The valves of the capsule open when 

 the seeds are ripe, if the w^eather should be dry; 

 but remain firmly closed, so long as the weather 

 continues wet. 



The genera Reaumuria and Nitraria, which 

 were formerly included in this order, have been 

 removed from it, and made into separate orders, 



