CALTCIFLOR^. 541 



East Indies, and Australia. Examples: — Weinmaunia, Cuno- 

 nia, Ealeighia. There are 22 genera, and 100 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Astringent. Some have been used for 

 tanning ; others exude a gummy secretion. 



Natural Order 89. Crassulace^. — The Houseleek or Stone- 

 crop Order. — G eneral Characte r. — Succulent herbs or shrubs. 

 Leaves entire or pinnatifid, exstipulate. Flowers usually c}Tnose 

 {fig. 413"), symmetrical {figs. 763 and 764). Calyx generally 

 composed of 5 sepals, but varying in number from 3 — 20, more 

 or less combined at the base, inferior {fig. 763), persistent. 

 Petals equal in number to the divisions of the calyx {fig. 763, 

 p), with which they are alternate, either distinct or cohering, 

 and inserted into the bottom of the calyx; cestivation imbricated. 

 Stamens inserted with the petals {fig. 763, e), either equal to 

 them in number and alternate with them {fig. 763), or twice as 

 many {fig. 764), and then forming 2 whorls, one of which is 

 composed of longer stamens than the other ; the longer stamens 

 are placed alternate to the petals, and the shorter stamens 

 opposite to them; anthers 2- celled with longitudinal dehiscence. 

 Carpels equal in number to the petals and opposite to them {fig. 

 763, 0, o), each having frequently a scale on the outside at the 

 base {fig. 763, a), distinct or more or less united; styles distinct. 

 Fruit either consisting of a whorl of follicles {fig. 566), or a 

 capsule with locuhcidal dehiscence. Seeds very small, variable 

 in number ; embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen, with the 

 radicle towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Succulent herbs or shrubs. Leaves exstipulate. 

 Flowers perfectly symmeti'ical, the sepals, petals, and carpels 

 being equal in number (3 — 20), and the stamens being also equal 

 to them, or twice as many. Petals and stamens almost, or quite 

 hypogynous. Corolla monopetalous or polypetalous. Fruit 

 either apocarpous and folhcular, or a many- celled capsule with 

 loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds small ; embryo in the axis of fleshy 

 albumen. 



Division of the Order, Sfc. — The order has been divided into 

 two sub-orders as follows : — 



Sub-order 1. Crassulece. — ^ruit consisting of a whorl of fol- 

 licles. Examples : — Crassula, Bryophyllum, Cotyledon, Eche- 

 veria, Sedum. 



Sub-order 2. Diamorphece. — Fruit a many-celled capsule with 

 locuhcidal dehiscence. Examples : — Diamorpha, Penthorum. 



Distribution, ^c. — They are found in very dry situations in all 

 parts of the world : a large number occur at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. There are 25 genera, and 450 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Astringent, refrigerant, and acrid pro- 

 perties are found in the plants of this order, but they are gene- 

 rally unimportant. 



