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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



creeping, 10-angled stems and red or pink flowers, is fairly common. Many 

 of the Mamillarias and Echinocactus and Cereus could be grown in rooms, 

 as they take up little space and require practically no attention. Their 

 cultivation out of doors is hardly worth attempting except in the most southern 

 parts of the country, but it is questionable if they will ever receive much 

 attention except from enthusiasts, and even these usually grow cool in their 

 cultivation after a year or two. 



LIV. FICOIDEiE— Fig Marigold Order 



An order containing about 450 species of small shrubs or herbs, mostly 

 uninteresting, with opposite or alternate, usually fleshy or thickened, flat, 

 round, or triangular leaves. Flowers usually hermaphrodite, regular. The 

 genus Mesembryanthemum is the only one of any garden value. 



MESEMBRYANTHEMUM (Fig 

 Marigold). — A genus including about 300 

 species of erect or prostrate herbs with 

 fleshy opposite leaves, very variable in 

 form, and conspicuous white, yellow, or 

 rosy Daisy-like flowers. Calyx tube 

 adnate to the ovary, limb 5-8-lobed. 

 Petals numerous, linear, in one or more 

 series. Stamens numerous. Capsule 

 contained in the fleshy calyx tube. 



Cultv/re and Propagation. — Although 

 not hardy, several species are grown out 

 of doors in summer. They are easily 

 grown in a mixture of lime-rubble, loam, 

 sand, and rotted manure, and require the 

 sunniest possible place to develop their 

 flowers properly. They may be easily 

 increased by putting portions on moist 

 sand in the sun, and will root in a few 

 weeks. They are nearly all natives of S. 

 Africa. 



M. cordifolium variegatum. — This 

 handsome little perennial is probably the 

 best known member of the genus and is 

 largely used for edgings &e. The small, 

 flat, heart-shaped leaves are distinctly 

 edged with creamy white, and when 

 covered with bright rosy-purple flowers 

 the effect is elegant. 



Culture dc. as above. Easily increased 

 by cuttings inserted in sandy soil under 

 glass about March and April. 



M. crystallinum (Ice PZani).— A hardy 

 procumbent S. European annual, covered 

 with large glittering crystal-like granules. 



which give the plant a frosted appearance. 

 Leaves alternate, ovate, wavy. Flowers 

 from May to August, white, axillary, 

 nearly sessile. 



Culture and Projjagation. — This 

 species grows well in any good soil and 

 may be used in the rockery in sunny posi- 

 tions. Seeds should be sown in gentle 

 heat in March. The seedlings should 

 be pricked off, and by June they will be 

 large enough to plant out 6-8 in. apart. 



M. pomeridianum. — A South African 

 annual 3-6 in. high, with cylindrical 

 downy reddish stems, and thick oblong 

 lance-shaped leaves, ciliated on the mar- 

 gins. The golden-yellow flowers about 

 2 in. across, and somewhat resembling 

 the yellow-flowered Sweet Sultan, appear 

 in August, and are remarkable for not 

 expanding fully until towards the evening. 



Culture d-c. as above and for M. tri- 

 color. 



M. tricolor. — A pretty tufted annual 

 with long, linear acute leaves. Flowers 

 pink and crimson with a dark eye, on long 

 stalks covered with smaU granular pro- 

 tuberances. There is also a pretty white- 

 flowered variety called album. 



Culture and Propagation. — As this 

 plant dislikes being transplanted it is best 

 to sow the seeds in the open about April 

 where the plants are to bloom. They 

 make pretty edgings to borders, and 

 during the sunniest part of the day they 

 are a mass of blossom. 



LV. UMBELLIFER^— Sea Holly Order 



A large order containing over 150 genera and 1,300 species of herbs or 

 shrubs, rarely trees, with usually much-divided leaves. Flowers more or 



