LXI. CACTE^. 129 



1-celled, with several parietal placentas ; style filiform, termi- 

 nal ; stigmas as many as the placentas. Fruit succulent. 

 Seeds mostly without albumen. — Succulent, mostl}^ leafless 

 plants, almost all of American origin. 



1. RHIPSALIS, G«rtn. 



Tube of the perianth not produced beyond the ovary ; limb 

 rotate, of 12-18 short, scale-like lobes, the outer resembling 

 sepals, the inner petaloid. Stamens many, about equalling 

 the lobes of perianth. Style filiform ; stigmas 3-6, radiating. 

 Berry globose, smooth, often crowned with the dried-up limb 

 of the perianth. Seeds numerous, exalbuminous. — Fl. Cap. ii. 

 p. 479. 



Slender succulents, growing on trees, with whip-like (or leaf-like, often 

 jointed) stems, and small, lateral flowers. — R. cassi/fha, or some closely -allied 

 species, grows in CafFraria and at Natal ; branches slender, green, terete, 

 pendulous, remotely scaly. 



Order LXII. FICOIDE^. 



Flowers regular, bisexual. Calyx gamosepalous, 4-5-8-cleft, 

 adnate or free, mostly coloured within. Petals either very 

 numerous or, more usually, 0. Stamens perigynous or sub- 

 hypogynous, definite or indefinite, free. Ovary inferior or 

 superior, 2-5-20-celled or of 2-5 separable cocci ; ovules 

 many or few or solitary, usually on long cords, attached to the 

 base or inner angle of the cavity ; stigmas as many as the 

 carpels. Fruit capsular or nut-like. Embryo curved round 

 a central, mealy albumen. — Herbaceous or suff'ruticose plants, 

 with more or less fleshy, mostly quite entire leaves, with or 

 without stipules. Flowers either showy or minute. 



Tribe 1. Mesembeyanthe^. Petals very numerous, narrow. Stamens 

 many. Ovary inferior, 5- or many-celled. Capsules 5-20-celled, opening 

 by as many valves. — Leaves sessile, mostly opposite, without stipules. 



Herbs or shrubs, with fleshy leaves and bright 



flowers 1. Mesembryanthemttm:. 



Tribe 2. Teteagonie^. Petals 0. Ovary inferior. Drupe 1-9-celled, 

 indehiscent, often winged. — No stipules. 



Herbs or shrubs, with flat, alternate leaves . 2. Teteagonia. 



Tribe 3, Aizoide^. Petals 0. Stamens definite or indefinite, mostly 

 perigynous. Ovary superior. Capsules loculicidal. — No stipules. 

 Stamens perigynous. 



Stamens about 20, in the base of the calyx- 

 tube. Ovary 5-celled ; ovules 2-many in 



each cell 3. Aizoox. 



K 



