542 SYSTEMATiq BOTANY. 



Cotyledon umbilicus This plant, which is a common native in the West of 



England, has long been in use as a popular remedy in hysteria, and as an 

 external application to destroy corns and warts. It has been frequently used 

 of late years as a remedy for epilepsy. C. orbiculata, a native of the Cape of 

 Good Hope, is employed in similar cases. 



Sedum acre is the common yellow Biting Stonecrop of our walls, and as its 

 name implies, it is of an acrid nature. It is also reputed to possess emetic 

 and purgative properties. Sedum Tclephium is astringent. Lindley says, 

 that in Ireland, the leaves of Sedum dasyphyllum, rubbed among oats, are re- 

 garded as a certain cure for worms in horses. 



Rhodiula esculenia is eaten by the Greenlanders. 



Natural Order 90. Erancoace^. — The Francoa Order. — 

 Stemless herbs. Leaves exstipulate. Calyx 4-partite. Petals 

 4, persistent. Stamens hypogynoiis, or nearly so, four times as 

 many as the petals, the alternate ones sterile. Ovary superior, 

 4-celled ; ovules numerous ; stiyma 4-lobed; style none. Fruit a 

 membranous 4-celled, 4-valved capsule, with locuhcidal or 

 septicidal dehiscence. Seeds minute, indefinite; embryo very 

 minute, at the base of a large quantity of fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of Chili. There are but 2 genera, 

 and 5 species. Examples : — Francoa, Tetilla. 



Properties and Uses, — The Francoas are reputed to be 

 cooling and sedative. Tetilla is astringent, and is employed as 

 a remedy for dysentery. 



Natural Order 91. Parontchiace^ or lLLECEBRACE.aE. 



— The Knotwort Order. — Herbs or shrubs, with entire, simple, 

 sti]julate leaves. Flowers minute. Sepals 5, or rarely 3 or 

 4, distinct, or more or less coherent. Petals small, or absent, 

 perigynous. Stamens somewhat hypogynous, either equal in 

 number to the sepals and opposite to them, or more numerous, 

 or rarely fewer. Ovary superior, 1 or 3-celled ; styles 2 — 5. 

 Fruit dry, 1 or 3-celled, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds either 

 numerous upon a free central placenta, or solitary on a long 

 funiculus arising from the base of the fruit; albumen farinaceous ; 

 embryo curved. 



Distribution, 8fc. — Natives chiefly of barren places in the 

 south of Europe and the north of Africa. Examples : — 

 Corrigiola, Herniaria, Polycarpon, Spergula. There are 24 

 genera, and about 100 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Slightly astringent, but none of the 

 plants are of any particular importance. 



Natural Order 92. roRTULACACE.E. — The Purslane Order. 



— Succulent herbs or shrubs, with entire exstipulate leaves. 

 Flowers unsymmetrical. Sepals 2, coherent at the base. Petals 

 usually 5, distinct or united. Stamens perigynous or hypogynous, 

 varying in number, sometimes opposite to the petals ; filaments 

 distinct ; anthers 2-ccllcd, versatile. Ovary superior, or rarely 

 partially adlicrent. Fruit capsular, usually dehiscing trans- 

 versely, or by valves ; sometimes indehiscent; placenta free 

 central. Seeds numerous or solitary; embryo curved round 

 farinaceous albumen. 



