THE ORPINE FAMILY. 213 



S. Nhni, Kevin's stonecrop, or houseleek, bears on the flowering stem 

 small leaves that are all alternate, while those of the sterile shoots are im- 

 bricated and grow near the base in dense, rosette-like clusters. On the re- 

 curved branches of the three-forked cymes the little flowers occur very 

 closely. Their linear, pointed petals are white. From Virginia to Alabama 

 in the mountainous regions it makes its home and is known to the country 

 people through the ability of its bruised leaves to cure nosebleed when laid 

 on the crown of the head, oi» headache when applied to the temples. They 

 also seek it to give relief when stung by hornets. 



.v. piisilluui, a dainty little plant of annual duration growing on mountains 

 in Georgia and Alabama, seldom becomes over four inches high. It has a 

 glaucous, pale look and on its ascending branches the small white flowers 

 grow abundantly. In fruit it is particularly pretty as the capsules and 

 stems are then a pinky purple. 



S. telephioides, live-for-ever, or American orpine, is a stronger, more hardy 

 appearing plant than those of the family that have been mentioned, and is. 

 in fact, almost indestructible through its ability to live mostly through its 

 leaves. These are quite large, obovate or oval and .sessile on the flowering 

 stem. They are also remotely toothed. The branches of the cymes are 

 close and compact while the little flowers they so abundantly bear are pink- 

 ish and lively looking. The plant which is intensely glaucous casts about a 

 silvery, or purplish light. It continues to bloom as late in the season as 

 September and from Georgia extends as far northward as Pennsylvania. 



VIRGINIA STONECROP, DITCH STONECROP. 



PeiitJioruni sedoidcs. 



Flo7ve)-s : growing closely together in forked, one sided cymes on short pedicels. 

 Calyx : five-parted, the segments, ovate, pointed. Petals: five, (usually wanting). 

 Capsules: five-lobed, partly united and tipped with the style. Leaves: large; 

 alternate: oblong, or oblanceolate, ])ointed at the apex and tapering into short 

 petioles at the base, or being sessile ; finely serrate. Stem : erect ; leafy ; branched 

 above ; smooth. 



In wet, swampy places, or ditches the Virginia stonecrop is commonly 

 seen and is of especial interest to us as being the only known representative 

 of its genus in this country. Differing also from others in the family its 

 stems contain but very little juice. By some authors it is placed among the 

 saxifrages. 



