HOUSE-LEEK. 41 



Description. — The root is perennial, descending, elongated, 

 somewhat branched antl fibrous, crowned with several dense tufts 

 of thick, fleshy, ovate, wedge-shaped, acute, imbricated leaves, 

 which are smooth on both sides, ciliated at the margin, of a bright 

 green colour, often tinged with red at the summit. The stem 

 rises from the centre of the tuft of leaves ; it is erect, hairy, about a 

 foot in height, and clothed with narrow, alternate, sessile leaves, 

 which become gradually smaller as they approach the summit. 

 The flowers are arranged in a terminal, cymose corymb ; the 

 secondary branches springing from the axil of a leaf, or bractea, 

 and supporting several shortly pedicellate flowers, disposed in a 

 stellate form, and for the most part turned in one direction. The 

 calyx is deeply divided into twelve, acute, persistent segments. The 

 petals are usually twelve, lanceolate, acute, equal, withering, and of 

 a roseate purple colour. The stamens* are usually twelve, opposite 

 to the petals, with short subulate filaments, and globose, two-lobed 

 anthers. The germens are for the most part twelve, ranged in a 

 circle, oblong, pointed, compressed, terminated by short recurved 

 styles with obtuse stigmas. At the base of each germen, and alter- 

 nate with the stamens, is a small, nectariferous, wedge-shaped scale. 

 The capsules are equal in number to the germens, one-celled, 

 opening longitudinally, and containing numerous minute seeds, 

 arranged in a single series along each margin of the suture. Plate 

 27, fig. 4, (a) tuft of radical leaves ; (b) entire flower ; (c) capsules ; 

 (d) stamen ; (e) capsule, divided longitudinally ; (/) seed. 



This plant, remarkable for the beauty and singularity of its 

 flowers, is common in most parts of Britain and other European 

 countries, flourishing on roofs of houses, walls and rocks. It flowers 

 in July and August. 



The generic name is derived from semper always and vivo, to 

 live, in allusion to the vivaciousness of these plants. Common 



" The number of stamens is in reality twenty-four, of which twelve, 

 inserted one at the base of each petal, are perfect ; the rest alternating 

 with the petals, small and abortive ; some bearing anthers open longitu- 

 dinally and laterally, producing instead of pollen abortive ovules ! — others 

 resemble a cuneate pointed scale, in the inside of which, upon a longitu- 

 dinal receptacle, are likewise ranged abortive ovules in the same manner 

 as the real germen : thus exhibiting the most complete transition from 

 stamens to germens in the same individual." — Dr. Hooker. 



