STANDLEY TREES AND SHRUBS OF MEXICO. 307 



The usual English name is " horseradish tree." The roots have the odor and 

 flavor of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana Gaertn. Mey. & Sclireb.), for which 

 they are sometimes substituted ; a decoction of them is used in Nicaragua for 

 dropsy, and their juice is applied as a rubefacient or counter-irritant. The 

 wood is said to yield a blue dye. The leaves and young branches are relished by 

 stock and are sometimes cut for fodder. In India the young leaves, pods, and 

 flowers are cooked and eaten. The leaves are sometimes applied as a poultice 

 to sores, and they are said to have purgative properties. The seeds yield the 

 "ben " oil of commerce, which is used for lubricating watches and other delicate 

 machinery. The oil is odorless and never becomes rancid, consequently it is 

 useful in the manufacture of perfumes. It is very acrid and has purgative prop- 

 erties, but its use is somewhat dangerous if taken internally. It is sometimes 

 applied externally for cutaneous diseases. 



51. CRASSTJLACEAE. Orpine Family. 



Refekence: Britton & Rose, N. Amer. Fl. 22: 7-74. 1905. 



The species listed below are scarcely to be regarded as true shrubs, and other 

 Mexican species probably have equal claims to a place here. Many herbaceous 

 representatives of the family occur in Mexico. 



1. SEDUM L. Sp. PI. 430. 1753. 

 Very succulent erect plants; leaves alternate, entire; flowers small, perfect; 

 calyx 4 or 5-lobed ; petals 4 or 5 ; stamens 8 or 10 ; fruit of 4 or 5 follicles. 



Leaves terete 1, S. bourgaei. 



Leaves flat, at least on the upper side. 

 Petals yellow or purplish red. 



Petals purplish red 2. S. oxypetalum. 



Petals yellow 3. S. dendroideum. 



Petals white. 



Leaves linear 4. S. frutescens. 



Leaves oblong to spatulate. 



Leaves very turgid, narrowly oblong 5. S. lenophylloides. 



Leaves flat, obovate or spatulate. 



Flowers pedicellate 6. S. tortuosum.. 



Flowers sessile 7. S. retusum. 



1. Sedum bourgaei Hemsl. Diag. PI. Mex. 11. 1878. 



Mexico to Michoacdn ; type from San NicolSs, Valley of Mexico. 

 Low shrub, much branched ; leaves 1 to 2 cm. long ; flowers white or pink, 

 cymose. 



2. Sedum oxypetalum H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 6: 45. 1823. 

 Mountains and lava beds of the State of Mexico. 



Shrub, often a meter high, with very thick stems, the bark exfoliating in 

 thin yellowish sheets; leaves spatulate, 1 to 1.5 cm. long, rounded at apex; 

 flowers in leafy cymes. 



3. Sedum dendroideum Moc. & Sess6; DC. M§m. Crass. 37. pi. 9. 1828. 

 Hidalgo, Veracruz, Mexico, and Puebla, on cliffs. 



Branched shrub, a meter high or less, often forming dense masses; leaves 

 2 to 4 cm. long. " Siempreviva," " texiote," " texiotl " (Mexico). 



The juice is astringent and is used for hardening the gums, and for hemor- 

 rhoids, chilblains, dysentery, etc. Applied to the forehead, it is believed to stop 

 nosebleed. 



4. Sedum frutescens Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: 298. 1911. 

 Morelos. 



Low shrub ; leaves 2 to 6 cm. long, acute, bright green. 



