122 TETRAGONIACE^:. 



2. SEDUM. Linn. Stonecrop. 



(From the Latin sedo, to sit ; in allusion to the humble growth of these plants 

 on their native rocks.) 



Sepals usually 5, more or less united at base, ovate, often 

 turgid and leafy. Petals 5, often spreading. Stamens twice 

 the number of the petals. Carpels 5, many-seeded, with a 

 nectariferous scale at the base of each. 



1. *S. ternatum Mich. : stem creeping, a little scabrous ; leaves flat; the 

 lower ones spatulate-obovate, ternately verticillate ; the upper ones lance- 

 oblong, scattered ; cymes mostly 3-spiked ; terminal flowers decandrous, 

 the rest octandrous. S. portulacoides Muhl. 



Rocks. Can. to Geor. May. r l\.. Stem 4 6 inches long. Leaves from 

 half au inch to an inch long. Flowers white, sessile. 



Purslane-leaved Stonecrop. 



2. S. telcphiaidcs Mich. : stem erect ; leaves ovate or oval, flat, acute at 

 each end, somewhat toothed, smooth and fleshy ; corymb fasciculate, 

 many-flowered. 



Rocks. N. Y. to Car. July. 1}.. Stem branching, about a foot high, leafy. 

 Flowers in crowded compound corymbs with leafy bracts interspersed, pale 

 purple. American Orpine. 



3. S. Telephium Linn. : stem erect ; leaves flat, oblong and oval, atten- 

 uate at the base, toothed, smooth ; corymbs leafy ; stamens shorter than the 

 corolla. 



Rocks and fields. Catskill Mountains ; Orville, Onondaga county, N. Y. 

 Torr. July. 1J-. Stem 1 2 feet high. Leaves broad. Flowers purple. In- 

 troduced from Europe. Common Orpine. Live-forever. 



3. PENTHORUM. Linn. Penthorum. 



(From the Greek Bfj/re, /be. and opos, a border ; in allusion to the five-beaked 

 capsule.) 



Sepals 5, united at base. Petals 5, or none. Stamens 10. 

 Carpels 5, united at the base into a 5-beaked, 5-celled capsule ; 

 cells opening transversely on the inner side of the beaks. Seeds 

 numerous, minute. 



P. sedoides. Linn. : stem branched, angular above ; leaves alternate, lan- 

 ceolate, subsessile, unequally serrate ; flowers in terminal one-sided spikes 

 or racemes ; seeds numerous, elliptic. 



Overflowed grounds. Can. to Geor. and Louis. July, Aug. 1|-. Stem 

 12 18 inches high. Flotvers pale greenish-yellow. 



Sedum-kaved Penthorum. 



ORDER LJV. TETRAGONIACEJE. AIZOONS. 



Calyx 3 5 -cleft, free or partially adherent to the ovary. 

 Corolla none. Stamens definite. Ovary 2 9-celled ; styles 

 as many a.s the cells, distinct. Fruit either an indehiscent 



