372 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
a pistil composed of five free unilocular carpels, enclosing many 
anatropal horizontal ovules inserted on the ventral suture of each 
carpel. At maturity these bodies become dry, and open from within 
by this suture in such a 
manner as to constitute a 
Neg 
SO auf y like number of follicles, 
‘\ Sah f y Wiz 0 NG _which enclose extremely 
De & ‘i SY Ay WE small seeds. 
Ng SMES zees This little herb, as we 
Sut “RA SIR yy , 4 have said, may be considered 
be A i ee WZ Re We as a type of the CRASSULA- 
soe Ve ¢, Wre at, iF cem. These singular plants 
ON\WVo SW erow and keep fresh in the 
~ YOM + A) ‘3 most arid places, from the 
X \ | He he mass of liquids held in Te- 
\- VU g P serve in their fleshy tis 
\ "4 V4 sues, and from the almost 
\, f (jo total absence of all exhala- 
Fo tion. 
J The genus Crassula,which 
has given its name to the 
family, is remarkable for 
Fig. 390,—Sedum acre. the structure of its flowers, 
as a type of floral symmetry. This flower has five sepals with five 
petals alternating with them ; five stamens alternating with the 
petals, and five carpels alternating with the stamens. The House- 
leeks belong to the genus Sempervicum, the calyx of which has 
from six to twenty divisions, the corolla from six to twenty petals ! 
the andraceum twelve to forty stamens, the pistil with from six to 
twenty carpels. 
All of us have seen this beautiful plant creeping along 8 
thatch of cottages, with its succulent leaves disposed in @ TOSe™" a 
from the centre of which rises a straight cylindrical stem, a 
nished with thick fleshy leaves, and terminating by a scor . 
spike of purplish flowers. a 
pe cH this family 
Among the numerous exotic specimens with which 
furnishes horticulture, we may mention the Scarlet Crassula, the 7 
BEd SE LAC Eg be eee a alt ete ae eee a era 
which have been taken 
