140 CRASS ULACE^E. (ORPINE FAMILY.) 



Petals imbricated in the bud (rarely wanting), inserted, with the distinct 

 stamens, on the base of the calyx. Pistils distinct (united Vdow in Pen- 

 thoruiu), usually with a little scale at the base of each, forming pods (folli- 

 cles) which open along the inner suture. Seeds anatropous : the straight 

 embryo surrounded by thin albumen. Flowers usually cyniose, small. 

 Leaves chiefly sessile. 



Synopsis. 



* Pistils entirely separate. (True Crassulaceae.) 



1. TILLJEA. Sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils 3 or 4, distinct. 



2. SEDUM. Sepals, petals, and pistils 4 or 5, distinct. Stamens 10 - 8. 



* * Pistils united below into a 6-celled many -seeded pod. 

 8. PENTIIORUM. Sepals 5. Petals commonly none. Stamens 10. Pod 6-beaked. 



1. TILLJ&A, L. TILL^A. 



Sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils 3 or 4. Pods 2 - many-seeded. Very 

 small tufted annuals, with opposite entire leaves and axillary flowers. (Named 

 in honor of Tilli, an early Italian botanist.) 



1. T. Simplex, Nutt. Rooting at the base (l'-2' high); leaves linear- 

 oblong ; flowers solitary, nearly sessile ; calyx half the length of the (greenish- 

 white) petals and the narrow 8-10-seeded pods, the latter with a scale at the 

 base of each. (T. ascendens, Eaton.) Muddy river-banks, Nantuckct to E. 

 Penn. July - Sept. 



2. SEDUM, L. STONE-CROP. ORPINE. 



Sepals and petals 4 or 5. Stamens 8 or 10. Pods many-seeded ; a little 

 scale at the base of eaeh. Chiefly perennial, smooth, and thick-leaved herbs, 

 with the flowers cymose or one-sided. (Name from sedeo, to sit, alluding to the 

 manner in which these plants fix themselves upon rocks and walls.) 

 * Flowers one-sided on the spreading branches of the cyme, fqrming a sort of sjiike, 



mostly with 4 petals, $*c. and 8 stamens, while the central flower commonly has 5 



petals, Sfc. and 10 stamens. 



1. S. plllclielllllll, Michx. Stems ascending (4' -12' high) ; leaves lin- 

 ear, nearly terete, scattei'ed; spikes of the cyme several, densely flowered; petals 

 rose-purple, lanceolate. Virgina to S. Illinois, Kentucky, and southward. 



2. S. terimtlim. (TIIREE-LEAVED STONE-CROP.) Stems spreading 

 (3' -6 high); leaves fiat, the lower whorled in threes, wedge-ol>ovate, the upper 

 scattered, oblong; cyme 3-spiked, leafy ; petals white, linear-lanceolate. Kocky 

 woods, Penn., to Illinois and southward. May, June. Also in gardens. 



# # Flowers in close cymes, uniformly IQ-androns: leaves flat. 



3. S. telcpliioiclcs, Miehx. (WILD ORPINE or LIVE-FOR-EVEK.; 

 Stems ascending (6' -12' high), stout, leafy to the top; leaves oblong or oval, 

 entire or sparingly toothed, scattered; cyme small; prtdlt flesh-color, ovate-lan- 

 ceolate, taper-pointed; pods tajxrh'.y into a slender style. Dry rocks, Alle^hany 

 Mountains, from Maryland southward, and sparingly in New Jersey ? W. New 

 York "J and Indiana. June. 



