I4S SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



Goural Descriptiom of the Cucumhcr Family, 



Herbs — Climbing by tendrils. 



Leaves — Simple. 



Flowci's — Unisexual ; sepals, 5, coherent ; petals, 

 5, coherent; male, stamens monadelphous or in 

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

 pistn of 3 carpels, ovary inferior. 



Fruit — An inferior berry, pcpo or goui'd. 



Mesembriaceae. 

 The Mesembeiaxthemum 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 

 Mcstrrahrionthtrinura has some 300 species alone. 

 The thick, fleshy leaves of the greater number, like 

 those of Cras'sula, 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 beins; three-cornered, often 

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



Mesembrian'thenmin. — This genus is so named from 

 the fact that the flowers require the full midday sun 

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

 light is off them ; hence they are called " midday 

 flowers," for that is the meaning of this compound 



