208 Begoni&cea Begonia. 



bright red on the v>eins beneath. Flowers in terminal panicles, 

 rosy-pink. 



2. B. Veitchii.. A very fine species, found at an elevation 

 of 12,000 feet in Peru, Stemless, with thick fleshy oblique 

 cordate lobed leaves and very large vermilion-coloured flowers, 

 about two on each scape, with rose-coloured bracts. 



ORDER LIT. CACTE-3B 



A highly curious assemblage of plants, in nearly all of which 

 the leaves are undeveloped or reduced to spines or scales, and 

 the stems fleshy, abounding in the most remarkable and 

 ungainly forms. The flowers are often large and brilliant, the 

 calyx-lobes as well as the petals being coloured, and the stamens 

 numerous. Style long, often terminated by a radiating multi- 

 partite stigma. Fruit inferior, baccate ; seeds numerous, on 

 parietal placentas. With the exception of the genus Rhipsalis, 

 all are natives of America, from Chili to Canada in 50 north 

 latitude, but chiefly from Mexico. A few species are hardy 

 in dry situations or on rockwork. 



Opuntia Rafinesquiana, 0. vulgaris,a,nd two or three species 

 of Mammillarta are amongst the hardiest, but they are 

 rarely cultivated, except by curious amateurs. 



ORDER LIIL PICOIDEJE. 



This order includes about a score of uninteresting genera 

 besides the following, which is the only one we have to 

 consider. 



1. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. 



Herbs or erect or prostrate shrubs with usually opposite 

 simple fleshy leaves very variable in form, and conspicuous 

 white, yellow or red flowers resembling some of the Compositece 

 in appearance, though widely different in structure. Calyx- 

 tube adnate to the ovary, limb 5- to 8-lobed. Petals linear, 

 numerous, in one or more series. Stamens numerous. Capsule 

 contained in the fleshy calyx-tube, usually 5-celled, opening 

 through the top of the cells, many-seeded. The species are 

 estimated at about 300, the majority inhabiting South Africa. 

 The name is a compound of ^(rrjftfipla, mid-day, and avOs^iov^ 

 a flower ; the flowers of many species do not expand except when 

 the sun shines upon them. 



