158 ; THE CRASSULA FAMILY. . 
XXX. CRASSULACEA. THE CRASSULA FAMILY. 
Herbs or shrubs, with succulent leaves, all or only the upper 
ones usually alternate, rarely all opposite, no stipules, and 
flowers in terminal racemes or cymes. Sepals 3 or more, 
usually 5, sometimes 15 to 20, cohering at the base. Petals as 
many, sometimes united in a single corolla. Stamens as many 
or twice as many, inserted with the petals at the base of the 
calyx. Ovary superior; the carpels as many as the petals, and 
free, usually with a small, flat scale at their base, and forming 
as many distinct capsules, each containing several seeds attached 
to the inner angle. Embryo straight, with a thin, fleshy 
albumen. 
A numerous family, extending over the greater part of the globe, but 
particularly abounding in south-western Africa and in the rocky districts 
of Europe and central Asia. The exact concordance in number of the 
parts of the flower of the different whorls forms the most prominent 
character of the family, to which the succulent leaves give a peculiar 
habit. | 
Stamens 3 or 4.. Plants very small, with minute flowers . . 1. TILLAA, 
Stamens twice as many as the petals (half of them sometimes 
without anthers). 
Petals united in a tubular corolla, longer than the calyx . . 2. COTYLEDON. 
Petals free or nearly so, and spreading. 
Flowers mostly with 5 or 6 petals and sepals. . 3, SEDUM. 
All the flowers with more than 6, nr 10 or 12 petals and 
sepals. ; . 4. SEMPERVIVUM. 
Among the sutanledt nines in our oréethindien the Crassulas, Eche- 
verias, Kocheas, and a few others, belong to this family, but by far the 
greater proportion of ‘succulents ” form part of the Ficordee and Cactacee, 
which are entirely exotic. 
I. TILLZAA. TILLAA. 
Very small annuals, with opposite leaves, and minute flowers in the 
upper axils. Sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels 3 or 4. 
Besides the European species, the genus contains several from North 
America, central Asia, southern Africa, and Australia, most of them 
amongst the smallest of flowering plants. - 
1. T. muscosa, Linn. (fig. 359). Mossy 7.—The whole plant is seldom 
more than 2 inches high, and usually but an inch, or even much less. 
although much branched, and crowded with flowers; it is usually of 
a reddish colour, and slender, though succulent. Leaves narrow- 
lanceolate or linear. Flowers solitary in each axil, or several together 
in little clusters. Sepals lanceolate, pointed. Petals minute and subu- 
late. Carpels with 2 minute seeds in each. 
On moist, barren, sandy heaths and wastes, in western and southern — 
Kurope, extending eastward round the Mediterranean, and northward 
to the Netherlands. Has been found in several of the southern and e 
eastern counties of England, but not in Ireland or Scotland. Fl. summer. — 
