500 FICOIDE^ OR MESEMBEYACEiE — OAOTACE^. 



tenninates downwards in a conical form, and communicates with the 

 peripheral ends of the veins, or the loose parenchymatous substance of 

 the leaf There are two tribes : — 1. Semperviveee, with numerous 

 separate carpels. 2. Penthorese, with pistil consolidated. There are 14 

 genera and about 400 species. Examples — Crassula, Sempervivum, 

 Cotyledon, Sedum, Penthorum. 



Order 84. — FicoiDEJi; or MESEMBEYACBiE, the Pig-marigold and 

 Ice-plant Family. (Polypet. Perigyn.) Sepals definite, usually 5, but 

 varying from 4-8, more or less combined at the base, adherent to the 

 ovary or distinct from it, eqiial or unequal ; sestivation valvate or im- 

 bricate. Petals indefinite, coloured, sometimes 0. Stamens perigyn- 

 ous, distinct, definite or indefinite ; anthers oblong, incumbent. Ovary 

 usually many-celled ; stigmas several, distinct ; ovules 00, anatropal 

 or amphitropal, attached by cords, to the placenta, which is either 

 central or parietal. Pruit a many-celled capsule, opening in a stellate 

 or circumsoissUe manner at the apex, or an indehiscent nut. Seeds 00, 

 rarely definite or even solitary ; embryo curved or spiral, on the out- 

 side of mealy albumen ; radicle next the hilum. — Herbaceous or 

 shrubby succulent plants, with opposite or alternate simple leaves. 

 They are found in warm regions chiefly. The greater part of them 

 grow at the Cape of Good Hope. The order has been divided into 

 three tribes : — 1. Mesembryese, numerous conspicuous petals, many- 

 celled capsule, with stellate dehiscence. 2. Tetragoniess, petals 0, 

 fruit woody and iildehisoent. 3. Sesuvese, petals 0, capsule with 

 circumscissile dehiscence. 4. MoUugineae, calyx 5 -partite, petals 

 3-5 or 0, stamens sub-perigynous, fruit capsular, or with 2-5 cocci. 

 There are 22 known genera and 450 species. Examples — Mesembry- 

 anthemum, Tetragonia, Aizoon, Sesuvium, MoUugo. 



Some of them are used as articles of diet, as the leaves of Mesemr 

 hryanthemum edule, Hottentot's Pig, and Tetragonia expansa, New 

 Zealand Spinach. Others yield soda, and have been employed in the 

 manufacture of glass. Mesemhryanthernvmi erystallinwn, the Ice-plant, 

 is remarkable for the watery vesicles which cover its surface, and which 

 have the appearance of pieces of ice. Its juice is said to be diuretic, 

 and has been prescribed in dropsy and liver complaints. The seed- 

 vessels of some species of Mesemhryanthemum, as M. TripoKum, have 

 the property of expanding in a star-like manner when put into water, 

 and closing when dry. The flowers of many of the plants of the order 

 exhibit the phenomenon of opening only under the influence of sun- 

 shine, and closing in dull weather (p. 262). Leaves of Mesemhryan- 

 themum, called Pigs'-faces, are eaten with Kangaroo flesh in some parts, 

 of Australia, as a substitute for salt. 



Order 85. — Cactace.*;, the Cactus or Indian Fig Family. (Poh/- 

 pet. Epigyn.) Sepals numerous, usually oo , and confounded with the 

 petals, adherent to the ovary. Petals numerous, usually indefinite, 



