CRASSULACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 1 63. 



SEMPERVIVUM. 



Calyx concave, permanent, with from 6 to 12, more or less 

 deep, uniform, fleshy, rather acute, segments. Petals as many 

 as the segments of the calyx, and somewhat larger, lanceolate, 

 acute, channelled, equal, spreading, withering. A small lacer- 

 ated scale, at the base of each carpel. Filaments as many, or 

 twice as many, as the petals, opposite to them, but not so long, 

 when more numerous, alternate, awl-shaped, spreading ; car- 

 pels as many as the stamens, oblong, pointed, compressed, each 

 terminating in a spreading style, with a blunt stigma ; when ripe 

 bursting along their inner margins. 



573. S. tectorum Linn. sp. pi. 664. Eng. Bot. t. 1320. Fl. 

 Lond. t. 29. DC. prodr. iii. 413. Common on roofs and walls. 

 (Houseleek; Hauslaub Germ.} 



Root fibrous, crowned with several rosaceous tufts of numerous, ob- 

 long, acute, keeled, fringed, extremely succulent leaves. Stem from 

 the centre of one of these tufts, a foot high, erect, round, downy, 

 clothed with several, more narrow, sessile, alternate leaves, and termi 

 nating in a sort of many-flowered cyme, with spiked branches. Flowers 

 large, pale rose-coloured, without scent. Segments of the calyx 12 or 

 more, with a similar number of petals, stamens and pistils. The 

 leaves are cooling, when applied externally, and frequently renewed. 

 They possess moreover an astringent property, which is rather salutary 

 in many cases. The Dispensatory describes a beautiful white highly 

 volatile coagulum, formed of the filtrated juice of these leaves, with an 

 equal quantity of rectified spirit of wine. Smith. 



SEDUM. 



Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5. Stamens twice as many. Hypo- 

 gynous scales entire or nearly so. Carpels 5. Succulent her- 

 baceous plants or undershrubs. 



574. S. Telephiurn Linn. sp. pi 616. E.Bot. 1. 1319. Smith 

 Eng. ft. ii. 316. DC. prodr. iii. 402. Various parts of Eu- 

 rope in fields, hedges, and bushy places. (Orpine.) 



Root of several oblong, tapering, white knobs. Herb smooth. Stems 

 2 feet high, erect, simple, leafy, round, spotted with red. Leaves scat- 

 tered, sessile, ovate, spreading, fleshy, more or less bluntly toothed or 

 serrated, wiih a stout midrib. Flowers crimson, rarely white, in 

 dense, corymbose, terminal or partly axillary, tufts, interspersed with 

 fleshy toothed bracts. Smith. Stamens not longer than the corolla. 

 Refrigerant, and slightly astringent. Leaves boiled in milk are com- 

 mended in diarrhoea. 



275 T 2 



