544 SrSTEMATlC BOTANY. 



regions. A large number are found at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 There are 16 genera, and 440 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Several are edible ; others yield an 

 abundance of soda when burned, but generally the plants of the 

 order are of little importance. 



Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is the Ice-plant. It is so called from its 

 surface being studded with little watery vesicles of an ice-like appearance. Its 

 juice is reputed to be diuretic. The ashes of this species, as well as those of 

 M. copticum, nodiflorum, and others, contain soda. M. genicuUflorum is 

 employed as a pot-herb in Africa, and its seeds are edible. M. edule is calied 

 the Hottentot's- Fig ; its leaves are eaten. The fruit of M. ccquilaterale (Pig- 

 faces, or Canagong), is eaten in Australia. 



Lewisia rediviva.— The root is eaten in Oregon. It is sometimes called 

 Tobacco-root from the smell of tobacco which it is said to acquire by cook- 

 ing. According to M. Geyer, it is the Racine amire of the Canadian Voya- 

 geurs ; it forms a very agreeable and wholesome food when cooked. 



Tetragonia expansa is used in New Zealand as a substitute for spinage. 

 It has been cultivated in Europe, and employed for the same purpose under 

 the name of New Zealand Spinage. 



Natural Order 94. PASsiFLORACEiE. — The Passion-Flower 

 Order. — Herbs or shrubs, usually climbing by tendrils {fig. 

 209). Zeayes alternate, with foliaceous stipules, jp/owers perfect, 

 or very rarely unisexual. Sepals 5, united below into a tube, the 

 throat of which bears a number of filamentous processes ; petals 

 5, inserted in the throat of the calyx on the outside of the 

 filamentous processes, with an imbricated cestivation; some- 

 times wanting. Stamens usually 5, monadelphous, rarely nume- 

 rous, sun-ounding the stalk of the ovary. Ovary stalked, supe- 

 rior, 1 -celled; styles 3, clavate; placentas parietal. Fruit 1- 

 celled, stalked, generally succulent. Seeds numerous, arillate ; 

 embryo in thin fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, Sfc. — They are chiefly found in tropical America, 

 but a few also occur in North America and the East Indies, 

 and several in Africa. Examples : — Paropsis, Passiflora, Tac- 

 sonia, Barteria. There are 13 genera, and 211 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many are cultivated for the beauty of 

 their flowers and foliage. Several have edible fruits, and others 

 are said to be bitter and astringent, narcotic, emmenagogue, or 

 diaphoretic. 



Paropsis edulis has an edible fruit. It is a native of Madagascar. 



Passiflura.— The fruits of several species of this genus are eaten under the 

 name of Granadillas. The root of P. quadrangularis is said to be narcotic. 

 The flowers of P. rubra are also narcotic. Other species are reputed to be 

 anthelmintic, emmenagogue, emetic, carminative, &c. 



Tacsonia. — The pulpy fruits of T. speciosa, ?nollissit?ia, tripartita, and 

 others, arc edible. 



Natural Order 95. Malasherbiace^ — The Crownwort 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is a small order of herbaceous, or 

 somewhat shrubby plants, resembling Passijloracete, but differ- 

 ing in never being climbers; in tlie want of stipules; in the 

 filamentous processes of tliat order being reduced to a sliort 

 membranous rim or coronet iu this; in the insertion of their 



