124 SEMPERVI'VUM TECTO'RUM EXAMINED. 

 EDWARD. 



I suppose it is Dodecagynia, for I see twelve pis- 

 tils, and I think you told me that whenever there 

 were about that number in each flower, the order 

 was called so. 



MOTHER. 



You are right. The number of the pistils in the 

 genus Sempervi'vum, to which this plant belongs, 

 is commonly twelve : but it often varies. Here 

 then is the description. [PLATE 13.] " The calyx 

 " is a cup, of one piece, with twelve or more sharp 

 " divisions : the blossom is longer than the cup, 

 " and composed of the same number of sharp 

 " petals, each of which is fringed with fine hairs. 

 " The number of stamens is, in general, the same 

 " with that, of the petals :" but frequently, in this 

 species, some of them are imperfect, and of very 

 different appearance from the rest. " There are 

 " about twelve germens, placed in a circle, which 

 " have sharp summits." In our plant, Semper- 

 vi'vum tecto'rum, the leaves grow in thick tufts, 

 and are very fleshy, and fringed at the edges with 

 hair. 



EDWARD. 



Look at this piece that grew upon the wall ; it 

 has only eight pistils. 



MOTHER. 

 In the Houseleek you will often find, that the 



