caltciflob-j:. 543 



Distribution, 8fc. — Natives of waste dry places iu various 

 parts of the world, but chiefly at the Cape of Good Hope and 

 in South America. Examples : — Portulaca, Tahnum, Claytonia, 

 Montia. There are 12 genera, and 184 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The fleshy root of Claytonia tuberosa is 

 edible. Portulaca oleracea has been used from the earliest times 

 as a pot-herb, and in salads. It possesses cooHng and antiscor- 

 butic properties. Many of the plants have large showy flowers. 



Natural Order 93. Mese3ibrtace^ or FicoiDEiE. — The Ice- 

 Plant or Fig-Marigold Order. — GeneralCharacte r. — Suc- 

 culent herbs or shrubs, with opposite or alternate, simple leaves. 

 Calyx 3 — 8-partite, either free, or partially adherent to the 

 ovary. Petals either numerous and sho-^y, or altogether absent. 

 Stamens perigynous, distinct, numerous or definite. Ovary 

 inferior or nearly superior, usually many-celled, rarely 1 -celled; 

 placentas axile, free central, or parietal, styles and stigmas as 

 many as the cells of the ovary, distinct ; ovules usually numerous, 

 or rarely solitary, amphitropal or anatropal. Fruit usually a 

 many-celled capsule, or rarely 1 -celled, dehiscing in a stellate 

 or circumscissile manner at the apex, or splitting at the base, or 

 woody and indehiscent. Seeds few or numerous, or rarely soli- 

 tary ; embryo curved or spiral, on the outside of mealy albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Succulent herbs or shrubs, with simple ex- 

 stipulate leaves. Sepals definite, generally more or less united 

 to the ovary. Petals very numerous, or absent. Stamens 

 perigynous. Ovary inferior or nearly superior; styles distinct; 

 placentas axile, free central, or parietal. Fruit capsular, or 

 indehiscent. Seeds with a curved or spiral embryo on the 

 outside of mealy albumen. 



Division of the Order, ^c. — The Mesembryaceag may be 

 divided into three sub-orders as follows : — 



Sub-order 1. Mesembryece. — Leaves opposite. Petals nume- 

 rous, consiDicuous. Stamens numerous. Fruit capsular, de- 

 hiscent. Examples : — Mesembryanthemum, Glinus, Lewisia. 



Sub-order 2. Telragonece. — Leaves alternate. Petals absent. 

 Stamens definite. Fruit woody and indehiscent. Examples : 

 — Tetragonia, Aizoon. 



Sub-order 3. Sesuveoe. — Leaves alternate. Petals absent. Sta- 

 mens definite. Fruit capsular, with transverse dehiscence. 

 Examples : — Sesuvium, Cypsela. 



The two last sub-orders are commonly placed in one order, 

 called TetragoniacecB, which is then readily distinguished from 

 the ]\Iesembryace£E, by its plants having alternate leaves, no 

 petals, and but a small number of stamens. The plants compre- 

 hended in the above three sub-orders are, however, so nearly 

 allied, that I have placed them in one order as above. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Natives exclusively of warm and tropical 



