CRASSULACE-E. XX. DIAMORPHA. XXI. PENTHORUM. FICOIDE^E. I. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. 125 



tribe are anomalous in the order, in consequence of the carpels 

 being united into a many-celled capsule, and dehiscing on the 

 outside). D.C. prod. 3. p. 414. Carpels united at the base into 

 a many-celled capsule. 



XX. DIAMO'RPHA (from SiapopQou, diamorphoo, to de- 

 form ; in reference to the fruit, which is formed differently and 

 contrary to the rest of the order). Nutt. gen. amer. 1. p. 293. 

 D. C. prod. 3. p. 414. 



LIN. SYST. Octdndria, Tetragyma. Calyx 4-lobed. Petals 4. 

 Stamens 8. Carpels 4, united at the base, but diverging at the 

 apex, cuspidate, opening on the outside, usually containing about 

 4 seeds. A small biennial herb, with the branches disposed in 

 whorles from the base. Flowers small, white, disposed in cymes. 

 Leaves alternate, nearly terete. 



1 D. PUSI'LLA (Nutt. 1. c.) $ . H. F. Native of North 

 Carolina, about Camden, among moss on rocks. Sedum pusil- 

 lum, Michx. fl. bor. amer. 1. p. 276. Tillae'a cymosa, Nutt. gen. 

 amer. 1. p. 110. 



Small Diamorpha. PI. 1 inch. 



Cult. The seeds of this plant should be sown in a pot, filled 

 with peat, and the plants need not be shifted into other pots ; but 

 be preserved through the winter by a frame. 



XXI. PENTHO'RUM (from nevrc, pente, five, and o 

 horos, a boundary ; in reference to the 5 beaks which terminate 

 the capsule). Lin. gen. no. 580. Gaertn. fruct. 1. p. 312. t. 65. 

 D. C. prod. 3. p. 414. 



LIN. SYST. Decdndria, Pentagynia. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 

 5. Stamens 10. Scales wanting? Carpels 5, united at the 

 base, in a 5-beaked 5-celIed capsule, which is pentagonal at the 

 apex, and opening under the beaks. Seeds numerous, small, 

 fixed on every side of the broad placenta, and probably exalbu- 

 rninous. Erect perennial herbs, with scattered, membranous, 

 oblong-linear, unequally serrated leaves : and unilateral cymes, 

 which are turned back at the points. 



1 P. SEDIOIDES (Lin. spec. p. 620.) stem a little branched ; 

 leaves lanceolate ; cymes numerous, panicled, many-flowered ; 

 seeds scobiform. If. . H. Native of North America, in bogs, 

 from New England to Carolina, and on La Grande Chaudiere. 

 Lin. act. ups. 1744. t. 2. Lam. ill. t. 390. Flowers white or 

 pale yellow. 



Stonecrop-like Pentborum. Fl. July, Aug. Clt. 1768. PI. 1 ft. 



2 P. CHINE'NSE (Pursh. fl. amer. sept. 1. p. 323. in obs.) 

 stem simple ; leaves long, linear-lanceolate ; cymes few, corym- 

 bose, few-flowered; seeds ovate, horny. 3. H. Native of 

 China. D. C. mem. crass, pi. 13. Very like P. sediuldes, but 

 the seeds are certainly distinct. Stems, as in it, terete at the 

 base, and angular at the apex. 



China Penthorum. PI. 1 foot. 



Cult. The species of this genus grow freely in light sandy 

 soil, and are easily increased by dividing at the roots. Cuttings 

 also strike freely under a hand-glass. P. Chinensis, if ever it 

 should be introduced to the gardens, will require protection in 

 winter until its hardiness be ascertained. 



ORDER CXIV. FICOI'DE^E (plants agreeing in character 

 with Mesembrydnthemum, or Fig-marygold, in particular charac- 

 ters). Juss. gen. p. 315. diet. sc. nat. 16. p. 528. D. C. prod. 

 3. p. 415. 



Calyx constantly of a definite number of sepals, usually 5, but 

 varying from 4 to 8, more or less united at the base, either co- 

 hering with the ovarium, or almost distinct from it, equal or un- 

 equal, quincuncial or valvate in aestivation. Petals indefinite, 

 coloured, narrow, a little combined at the base, sometimes want- 



ing, but in that case the inside of the calyx is coloured. Stamens 

 indefinite, arising from the calyx, distinct ; anthers oblong, in- 

 cumbent. Ovarium distinct, or adnate to the calyx, many- 

 celled, crowned by numerous distinct stigmas. Capsule either 

 girded by the fleshy calyx or naked, usually many-celled, but 

 often 5-celled, opening in a stellate manner at the apex. Seeds 

 attached to the inner angle of the cells, definite or indefinite. 

 Embryo lying on the outside of a mealy albumen, curved. 

 Shrubby or herbaceous plants, variable in habit. Leaves fleshy, 

 opposite, simple. Flowers usually terminal. 



The curved embryo and mealy albumen, along with the 

 superior calyx, and distinctly perigynous stamens, characterise 

 these among their neighbours, independently of their succulent 

 habit. With Crassulacece, Clienopodeee, and Caryophyllece they 

 are more or less closely related. Reaumuriece and Nilranacece 

 are families different in affinity. The hottest sandy plains in the 

 Cape of Good Hope nourish the largest part of this order. A 

 few are found in the south of Europe, north of Africa, Chili, 

 China, Peru, and the South Seas. The succulent leaves of a 

 few of the species are eaten, as of Tetragbnia expdnsa, Mesem- 

 brydnthemum edule, and Sesuvmrnportulacdstrum; others yield an 

 abundance of soda. Mesembrydnthemum nodiflbrum is used in 

 the manufacture of Moroquin leather. 



Synopsis of the genera. 



1 MESEMBRYA'NTHEMUM. Calyx of 5, rarely of 2-8 sepals. 

 Petals indefinite, linear. Stamens indefinite, inserted in the top 

 of the calyx along with the petals. Capsule adnate to the calyx, 

 from 4 to many-celled ; cells many-seeded. 



2 TETRAGONIA. Calyx 4, rarely 3-cleft ; lobes coloured in- 

 side. Petals wanting. Stamens variable in number. Capsule 

 3-8-celled ; cells 1 -seeded. 



3 SESU'VIUM. Calyx 5-parted ; lobes coloured inside. Petals 

 wanting. Stamens 15-30, inserted in the top of the tube of the 

 calyx. Capsule 3, rarely 4-5-celled ; cells many-seeded. 



4 AIZOON. Calyx 5-parted, coloured inside. Petals want- 

 ing. Stamens about 20, inserted in the bottom of the calyx, 

 3-5 in each fascicle. Capsule 5-celled ; cells many-seeded. 



5 GLINUS. Calyx 5-parted, coloured inside, with 3 inner 

 sepals and 2 outer ones. Petals 5-20, tongue-shaped, 2-4-cleft 

 at the apex. Capsule covered by the calyx, 5-celled ; cells 

 many-seeded. 



6 ORY V GIA. Calyx 5-parted. Petals numerous (20), lanceolate. 

 Stamens indefinite. Capsule globose, 5-celled, many-seeded. 



I. MESEMBRYA'NTHEMUM (from //^i^Spia, mesem- 

 bria, mid-day, and avSepoi', anthemon, a flower). Lin. gen. 

 628. Gsertn. fruct. 2. t. 126. Lam. ill. t. 438. Haw. obs. 

 mes. 1. vol. 8. 1794. misc. 1803. p. 15. syn. pi. succ. 1819. p. 

 202. D. C. prod. 3. p. 415. Mesembryanthemum and Hy- 

 menogyne, Haw. rev. succ. p. 74. and p. 192. 



LIN. SYST. Icosdndria, Tetra-Polygynia. Calyx of 5, rarely 

 of 2-8 sepals ; sepals united to themselves, and to the ovarium 

 even to the middle ; lobes unequal, usually leaf-formed. Petals 

 innumerable, in one, but more often in many series, united among 

 themselves at the base. Stamens indefinite, disposed in many 

 series, inserted with the petals at the top of the calyx. Ovarium 

 adnate to the calyx, many celled inside (4-20), but usually 5- 



