1COSANDRIA. 159 



early varieties of the Pear, may be produced by engrafting 

 on Quince stocks. 



GENUS Mesembryanthemum. Fig Mary gold. The name 

 is from the Greek, mesembryia, the mid-day, because the 

 flowers usually expand at that time. The name is certainly 

 unfortunate in respect to length, but corresponds well with 

 the extent of this genus, of which the Enc. of Plants con- 

 tains descriptions of more than 300 species, besides many 

 varieties, the whole being illustrated by nearly 100 engraved 

 figures. The species, says this work, of this extensive 

 genus are singular, yet beautiful, and some even splendid 

 plants. Their leaves are of odd shapes, and the habits of 

 most of the sorts slovenly and insignificant, though some 

 are grotesque ; but the flowers make ample amends by their 

 profusion, the brilliancy of their colors, and the length of 

 time the species continue in flower. Few are annual, few- 

 er biennial, many are perennial, and most are shrubby, es- 

 pecially at the base. 



The leaves of this genus are mostly opposite, thick, short, 

 and blunt pointed, though some are acute ; their forms also 

 bear a family likeness, being tongue-shaped, spatulate, half- 

 round, round, angular, dagger-shaped, hatchet-shaped, sub- 

 ulate, &c. All the species of this genus, except three or 

 four, which are natives of New Zealand and New Holland, 

 come from the Cape of Good Hope, and consequently are 

 hot house plants. They are all evergreens, generally grow- 

 ing to the height of from three inches to a foot, though a few 

 are three feet high. The flowers of perhaps seven eighths of 

 the species are either pink, or yellow, though some are white, 

 or purple, &c. and a few are striped. In general they blos- 

 som in April, May, June, or July. 



The species, Fig. 180, here represent- Fiff 1S - 



ed, is the White Fig Marygold, (Mes- 

 embryanthemum albinum.) It grows 

 three or four inches high, very smooth 

 and white ; leaves thick, three corner- 

 ed, obtuse, with a point, and opposite ; 

 flowers yellow. The mode of flower- 

 ing in most of the species is similar, 

 and somewhat resembles that of the 

 Marygold. In some of the species the 

 fruit resembles the Fig, and hence the 



What is said of the genus Mesembryanthemum ? 



