Scmvmm. FICOIDK.F,. 251 



It. is nininly a tiopicnl and stil>tr(iiiicnl fnniily, "f tlif^ *^Mil AVorlil. Ottr Pncific ('mist lias only 

 two iixligoiiona rppipsoiitativcs, both insif^nirKniil, nnd ns ninny niiliiiiili/cd oin's, wliicli n|>|i('iir iis 

 \( wild on tlio sea-slioin. 



* Calyx-tiibe adnatc to the ovary : petals and stamens very miiniTons. 



1. Mesembryanthemum. Capsule 5-valvcd or nioic. Very flcsliy. 



♦ * Ovary free : ])ptal9 none : stamens few or many. 



2. Sesuvium. Calyx-lobes 5, pctaloid. Stamens 5 to 00. Capsvdc cinuimsci.ssile. Succulent. 



3. MoUugo. Sepals f). Stamens 3 or 5. Capsule 3-valvcd. Not succulent 



1. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, Linn. Ici>Plant. Fig-Marygoi-d. 

 ("alyx-tube adnato to the ovary; tlie lobes usually 5, unequal, foliaceous. Petals 

 very numerous, linear. Stamens innuinerablo, with slender filaments, inserted with 

 the petals on the tube of the calyx. Styles 4 to 20, usually 5. Capsule 4 - 20- 

 eelled, dehiscing in a star-like manner at tlie depressed summit. Seeds minute, 

 very numerous. — Fleshy herbs or shrubs, rarely annual; leaves mostly oi)posito, 

 without stipules ; flowers mostly showy, terminal and in the forks of the branches. 



A genus of about 300 species, principally S. African, but a few found in the Mediterranean 

 region, Western S. America, nnd Australia. The Calilornian species arc probably introduced. 



1. M. cequilaterale, Haworth. Perennial, with stout prostrate or ascending 

 stems and sliort ascending flowering branches : leaves very fleshy, oppo.sitc and 

 clasping, linear, acutely triangular, 1 to 3 inches long, smooth : flowers solitary, 

 red, pedicnllato or nearly aoasilo, abotit 1 h inches in diameter : ealyx-tubn turbinate, 

 half an inch long or more, angled or tcr. to ; the larger lobes oft(Mi as long : stigmas 

 6 to 10. — DC. Prod. iii. 429. 



On the sea-shore and in saline soils from San Diego to Punta de los Reyes. Also in Chili and 

 abundant in Australia and Tasmania, and very similar to ilA acinaciformc of S. Africa. Fruit 

 edible and pleasant, and the flowers veiy fragrant. 



2. M. crystallinum, Linn. Annual or biennial, diffusely jirocumbent, covered 

 with large white glistening papillre : leaves flat, fleshy, often alternate on the 

 branches, clasping, ovate or spatulate, undulate : flowers axillary, nearly sessile, 

 wliito or roso-colored : calyx-tube campamilate, terete, 4 or T) lines long ; lolies ovat.c, 

 rctuso or acute : stigmas f). — DC. Prodr. iii. '148. 



San Diego {Clevchind) ; Santa Cru7, Island (Rolhrnd-) ; rollected also by Firimmt. Ai.pnrontly 

 identical with S. African specimens. 



2. SESUVIUM, Linn. Ska Purslane. 



Calyx-tube turbinate, free from the ovary ; the lobes 5, oblong-lanceolate, apic- 

 ulate on the back near the top, nierabranously margined, often colored within. 

 Petals none. Stamens 5, alternate with the lobes, or many, inserted at the top of 

 the calyx-tube. Styles 3 to 5. Ca])sule ovate-oblong, membranaceous, 3 - 5-celled, 

 circumscissile at the middle, many-seeded. — Succulent smooth branching mostly 

 prostrate herbs, sometimes woody at base ; leaves opposite, linear to spatulate, 

 entire, without stipules or united by a stipule like membrane ; flowers axillary and 

 terminal, solitary or clustered. 



Al)out 4 species are known, frequenting the sea-coast ami saline loi-alifios through the tropics 

 and warmer regions of the globe. 



1. S. Portulacastrum, T.inn. Perennial : stems prostrate or n.^cending. herba- 

 ceous, often a foot long or more: loaves linear- t^ oblong fiblanceojnte, ^ to H 

 inches long, acute or obtuse : flowor* sessile or pedicellate : calyx 3 to T) lines long ; 



