340 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



of Europe, Asia, and North America. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Eibes, Linn.; Polyosma, Br. These are the only genera; 

 they include about 100 species. 



Properties arid Uses. — Some are showy garden plants, as 

 Bibes f licit sio ides, R. sanguiiieum, R. aureum, R. coccineurn; 

 but they are chiefly remarkable for their agreeable acid fruits. 

 Thus the frait of Rihes Grossularia is the Gooseberry ; R. 

 riihrum and its varieties yield both Red and White Currants ; 

 and R. nigi^tin is the Black Currant. 



Order 130. Crassulaceje, the Houseleek Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Succulent herbs or shrubs. Leaves entire or j)innatifid, 

 exstipulate. Floiuers symmetrical. Calyx generally composed 

 of 5 sepals, but varying in number from 3 to 20, more or less 

 united at the base, inferior, persistent. Petals equal in number 

 to the divisions of the calyx, with which they are alternate ; 

 either distinct or united, and inserted into the bottom of the 

 cah^x ; cestivation imbricate. Stamens inserted with the petals, 

 either equal to them in number and alternate with them ; or 

 twice as many, and then forming 2 whorls, one of which is 

 composed of longer stamens than the other, the longer stamens 

 being placed alternate to the petals, and the shorter stamens 

 opposite to them ; anthers adnate, 2- celled, with longitudinal 

 dehiscence. Carpels equal in number to the petals and opposite 

 to them, each having frequentl3' a scale on the outside at the 

 base; distinct or more or less united; styles distinct. Fruit 

 either consisting of a whorl of follicles, or a capsule with loculi- 

 cidal dehiscence. Seeds very small, variable in number ; em- 

 bryo in the axis of fleshy albumen, with the radicle towards the 

 hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Succulent herbs or low shrubs. Leaves exstipu- 

 late. Flowers perfectly symmetrical, the sepals, petals, and 

 carpels being equal in number and the stamens being also 

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

 hypogynous. Corolla gamopetalous or polypetalous. Carpels 

 opposite the petals. 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 Illustrative Genera : — The order 

 may be divided as follows : — 



Sub-order 1. Crassule.e. — Fruit consisting of a whorl of fol- 

 licles. Crassula, Haiv. ; Sedum, Linn. 

 Sub-order 2. Diamorphe^. — Fruit a many-celled capsule with 

 loculicidal dehiscence. Diamorpha, Nntt. ; Penthorum, Linn. 



