CALYCIFLOEiE. 537 



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

 hypogynous. Corolla monopetalous or polypetalous. Fruit 

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

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

 albumen. 



Division of the Order, and Examples of the Genera: — The 

 order has been divided into two sub-orders as follows : — 



Sub-order 1. Crassulece. — Fruit consisting of a whorl of folli- 

 cles. Examples: — Crassula, Cotyledon, Sedum. 



Sub-order 2. Biaraorjjhece . — Fruit a manj'-celled capsule with 

 loculicidal dehiscence. Examples .•— Diamorpha, Penthorum. 



Distribution and Numbers.— The j are found in very dry situa- 

 tions in all parts of the world ; a large number occur at the Cape 

 of Good Hope. There are 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. 



Cotyledon.— C. umbilicii't. — This plant, which is a common native in the west 

 of England, has long been in use as a popular remedy in hj>teria, and as an 

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

 used of late years as a remedy for epilepsy. C. orbiculala, a native of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, is employed in similar cases. 



Rhodiola escuJenta is eaten by the Greenlanders. 



Sedum.— S. 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 Telephium is astringent. Lindley says, 

 that in Ireland, the leaves of Sedum dasypltyllum, rubbed among oats, are 

 regarded as a certain cure for worms in horees. 



Natural Order 90. Feancoacejk. — The Francoa Order. — 

 Character. — Stemless herbs. Leaves exstipulate. Calyx 4- 

 partite. Petals 4, persistent. Stamens hypogynous, or nearly 

 so, four times as many as the petals, the alternate ones sterile. 

 Oi'ar^ superior, 4-celled; oiv^^fs numerous; stigma ^-lohedi; style 

 none. Fruit a membranous 4-celled, 4-valved capsule, with 

 loculicidal or septicidal dehiscence. Seeds minute, indefinite ; 

 embryo very minute, at the base of a large quantity of fleshy 

 albumen. 



Distributio7i, ^'c. — Natives of Chili. Examptles of the Gcnr^ra: 

 — Francoa, Tetilla. These are the only genera, which include 

 about 6 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The Francoas are reputed to be cool- 

 ing and sedative. Tetilla is astringent, and is employed as a 

 remedy for dysentery. 



Natural Order 91. Paeoxychiace^t; or Illecebrace^. — 

 The Knotwort Order. — Character. — Herbs or shrubs, with en- 

 tire simple stipulate leaves. Flowers minute. Sepals 5, or 

 rarely 3 or 4, distinct, or more or less coherent. Petals small, 



