148 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS, 



General Descriptiom of the Cnciimhe?' Family. 



Herbs — Climbing by tendrils. 



Leaves — Simple. 



Floivers — Unisexual ; sepals, 5, coherent ; petals, 

 5, coherent; male, stamens monadelphous or in 

 groups (2 + 2 4- 1), anthers sinuate, or S-like ; female 

 pistil of 3 carpels, ovary inferior. 



Frmt — An inferior beny, pepo or gom-d. 



Mesembriaceae. 

 The Mesembeianthemum Family. 



This large family is specially characteristic of South 

 Africa. It contains some 450 species of 22 genera. 

 There are 8 genera in South Africa, of which 

 Mesemhrian'themum has some 300 species alone. 

 The thick, fleshy leaves of the greater number, like 

 those of Cras'sida, are due to the effects of the dry 

 climate, enabling the plants to store up much water 

 against the hot and rainless season. The leaves 

 assume various forms, some being three-cornered, often 

 of a round, rod-like shape, but always fleshy (Fig. 62). 



Mesembrian'themuin. — This genus is so named from 

 the fact that the flowers require the full midday sun 

 for opening, many closiug as soon as the direct sun- 

 light is off them ; hence they are called " midday 

 flowers," for that is the meaning of this compound 



