THE MESEMBRYANTHEMUM FAMILY 159 



Nyctaginaceae. 



The Marvel of Peru Family. 



Distribution. — A small family of plants, principally natives of warm 

 countries. Mirabilis dicJiotoma is the garden j)lant known as the Marvel of 

 Peru, or the Four o'clock Plant, from its habit of opening its flowers at that 

 hour of the afternoon. Bougainvillea spectabilis is remarkable for its large 

 rose-coloured bracts. Pisonia is the only New Zealand genus. The prickly 

 seeds of P. Bmnoniana exude a glutinous substance which adheres to the wings 

 of small birds, and makes them easy of capture. Another West Indian species 

 has strong hooked spines on its branches, which render it an annoyance to 

 travellers. 



Gemis Pisonia. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, alternate or whorled. Flowers small, 

 green or reddish, in terminal corymbs. Perianth 5-lobed. Stamens 6-10, 

 unequal. 1 sp. 



Pisonia Brunoniana {The Parapara). 

 A small tree, 12 ft. -15 ft. in height. Leaves opposite or whorled, 4 in.- 

 12 in. long, oblong, weak, entire. Flowers in compound cymes, hairy, 2 in. -4 in. 

 across. Perianth ^ in. long. Stamens 7. Perianth of the fruit sticky, ribbed, 

 1 in.-l^ in. long. Maori name para-para, sometimes called by the settlers the 

 Bird-catching plant. North Island : Ngunguru, Whangarei. Fl. nearly all 

 the year round. 



Aizoaceae. 



The MESEMBRYANTHEMUM FAMILY. 



Distribution. — A family of nearly 500 species, found chiefly in tropical and 

 «ub-tropical regions, notably in South Africa. 



Key to the Genera. 



Leaves angular. Petals many. Mesenibryanthemum. 



Leaves flat, petioled. Petals absent. Tetragonia. 



Genus Mesembryanthemiim. 



Xerophytic herbs, usually creeping, often succulent. Leaves opposite, 

 without stipules. Flowers axillary or terminal. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals and 

 stamens numerous. Ovary with 5 or more cells. Fruit a capsule opening in 

 moist air only ; seeds minute. (Name from the Greek, in allusion to the time 

 at which the flower expands.) 2 sp. 



