208 Begonwacee— Begonia. 
bright red on the veins beneath. Flowers in terminal panicles, 
rosy-pink. 
2. B. Veitchii.—A very fine species, found at an elevation 
of 12,000 feet in Pern. Stemless, with thick fleshy oblique 
cordate lobed leaves and very large vermilion-coloured flowers, 
about two on each scape, with rose-coloured bracts. 
Orver LIL—CACTEA 
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 Rhipsulis, 
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. 
Opintia Rafinesquicna, O. vulgaris,and two or three species 
of Mummillaria are amongst the hardiest, but they are 
rarely cultivated, except by curious amateurs. 
Orper LIIL.—FICOIDE A. 
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 rescmbling some of the Compésitece 
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 p:onuBpia, mid-day, and dvOeuov, 
a flower ; the flowers of many species do not expand except when 
‘the sun shines upon them. 
