62 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



at the apex. Stamens twice as many as the petals, inserted on the 

 tube of the corolla. Hypogynous scales at the base of the carpels, 

 oblong or oval-obtuse. * Follicles as many as the petals, distinct. 



Herbs or fleshy shrubs with various habit. The only British 

 species is remarkable for its fleshy peltate slightly concave leaves 

 and long dense secund racemes or panicles of yellowish pendulous 

 or spreading flowers. 



This genus of plants is named in allusion to the cup-like leaves of some of the 

 species : from KorvXri, a cavity. 



SPECIES I— COTYLEDON UMBILICUS. Linn. 



Plate DXXXIX. 



Umbilicus pendulinus, D. C. Plant. Grass. Tab. 156, and Prod. Vol. III. p. 400. Koch, 

 Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. 294. Gr. & Godr. FL de Fr. Vol. I. p. 030. 



Lower leaves stalked, peltate, sub-rotund, depressed in the 

 centre, repandly-crenate, fleshy ; lowest stem-leaves resembling 

 the radical ones, the intermediate spathulate, the upper ones 

 wedge-shaped. Bracts minute, entire. Flowers shortly stalked, 

 drooping, more rarely only spreading, in a long simple somewhat 

 unilateral raceme, which has generally a few racemose branches 

 towards the base. Corolla cylindrical, with 5 or 4 ovate-deltoid 

 acuminate teeth. 



On old walls and rocks, and stony hedge-banks. Common in 

 the "West of the island, but rare and sporadic in the East. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Ferennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Rootstock a small roundish tuber, varying according to the size 

 of the plant, from the dimensions of a small pea to that ot a large 

 nut. Stem 3 inches to 2 feet high, erect, but generally decumbent 

 for a neater or less distance at the base. Radical leaves on stalks 

 2 to 6 inches long, the lamina 1 to 3 inches across, succulent .slight y 

 hollowed out above, and gradually swelling into the petiole beneath. 

 Leaves on the stem passing by intermediate gradations from those 

 of a round peltate form into very shortly-stalked obovate or wedge- 

 shaped ones. Raceme occupying the greater part of the length ot 

 the stem, bearing verv numerous pale yellowish-green flowers 

 about | inch long, lengthening to \ inch after flowering. Pedicels 

 longer than the calyx. Sepals one-fourth the length ot the corolla 

 lanceolate-acuminate. Filaments included, adhering to the tube ot 

 the corolla for the greater part of their length. Hypogynous scales 

 Hat, oblong, emarginate. Follicles connivent. Plant pale bright- 



