322 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



ing ; flowers crowded nutant {Tropical Africa, all Tropical 

 Regions). See p. 310. 



7. Crassnla L. — Flowers 5-merous (more rarely 3, 4, or 6-9- 

 merous) ; calyx partite, lobed or cleft. Petals equal to calyx or longer, 

 free or more or less connate at base, sometimes contracted at base 

 {Dinacria) ; praefloration contorted or imbricate. Stamens as numerous 

 as petals ; filaments free or more or less united with petals. Anthers 

 ovate or oblong, sometimes sub-2-dymous (Tillaa). Scales as 

 numerous as carpels, varying in form. Carpels superposed to petals 

 and as numerous, free or connate at very base ; ovules oo, rarely few 

 {Tillcea), sometimes 2 {Disporocarpa), or 1 {Ilelophjtuni) ; styles 

 tapering ; apex narrow or dilated, stigmatose ; germen sometimes 

 shortly horned behind below style. Follicles 1, or more often co- 

 seeded ; seeds exalbuminous or with scanty albumen of Sediim. — 

 Shrubs, small shrubs, or more frequently herbs, annual or usually 

 perennial, succulent fleshy ; leaves opposite, sometimes connate at 

 base, usually entire, very thick ; flowers (large or small) cymose ; 

 cymes regular or unilateral, often much branching, racemiform or 

 more frequently corymbiform or glomerate {Warm and Temperate 

 regions of Old World, more rarely of New). See p. 311. 



