STONECEOP TBIBE. 233 



which they obstinately retain, and requiring no further 

 nourishment, save what they derive from the atmosphere 

 through myriads of mouths invisible to the naked eye, 

 but covering all their surface. A common British species, 

 Sedum Telephium, " Orpine living long," will grow for 

 months, if suspended by a string from the ceiling of a 

 room, without being once supplied with water. An 

 African species, Bryophyllum calycinum, will not only 

 grow if similarly treated, but if its leaves be gathered 

 and laid on the ground, they will send out from the 

 notches on their margin, young shoots, in all respects 

 resembling the parent plant. The properties of the tribe 

 are in general acrid ; some few contain malic acid, and 

 one or two are sometimes used in medicine, for their 

 astringent properties. 



1. TILL^A. Sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels, 3 

 or 4, the latter 2-seeded. (Named after Michael Angela 

 Tilli, an Italian botanist.) 



2. COTYLEDON (Pennywort). Sepals 5 ; corolla tubu- 

 lar, 5-cleft ; carpels 5, with a scale at the base of each. 

 (Name from the Greek cotyle, a cup, from the shape of 

 the leaves.) 



3. SEMPERVIVUM (House-leek). Sepals, petals, and 

 carpels, 6 10 ; stamens twice as many. (Name from 

 the Latin semper, always, and vivo, to live.) 



4. SEDUM (Stonecrop). Sepals and petals 4 6 ; 

 stamens 8 12, spreading ; carpels 4 5. (Name from 

 the Latin sedeo, to sit ; from the humble growth of the 

 plants.) 



1. TILL^A. 



1. T. muscosa (Mossy Tillaea). A minute plant, with 

 small, opposite, blunt leaves, and greenish- white flowers 

 tipped with red ; more frequent as a troublesome weed 

 in gravel walks, than elsewhere. It has somewhat of 

 the habit of a Sagina, from which, however, it is very 

 distinct. Fl. May, June. Annual. 



