196 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



curious seed-vessels, and not for their flowers, which are 

 inferior. 



M. scutellata. Snails. An annual. It has curious seed- 

 pods, which resemble a snail, and is generally known by the 

 name of Snails. 



M. intertezta, Hedge-hog, is an annual, cultivated for 

 its curious seed-vessels. Flowers yellow, in July and August. 



M. circinatus, Caterpillar, is also a very curious 

 annual. The seed-pods have the appearance of caterpillars ; 

 flowers yellow, of no beauty ; in June and July. 



ME SEMB RYAN THE MUM. 



Ice Plant. 



" With pellucid studs the Ice-flower gems 

 His rimy foliage, and his candied stems." 



M. cordifolium. Common Ice Plant. This is a singular 

 tender annual plant, with thick, fleshy leaves, that have the 

 appearance of being covered with crystals of ice. It succeeds 

 well in the open border, when forwarded in small pots, in light 

 sandy soil, in a hot-bed. When the young seedlings have 

 obtained sufficient size, they should be shifted into larger pots, 

 in the same kind of soil in which the seeds were sown. They 

 may be grown in pots, or turned out in the open ground in 

 June. The plants are highly ornamental, and contrast well 

 with other annuals. There is not much beauty in the flowers. 



MIMOSA. 



Mimosa sensitiva, Sensitive Plant, is a well-known 

 annual, from Brazil. It succeeds in the border during the 

 summer months, if the seed is sown, in March or April, in a 

 hot-bed, and the plants forwarded in pots, and turned out in 



