S98 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



dry places in Texas and the Western States of America, its 

 abundance giving a peculiar feature to the landscape. It 

 has small leaves ; and on these falling away, the midrib on 

 the under-side becomes a stiff spine. Some botanists con- 

 sider it the type of a distinct family. 



The Fig-Marigold Family. 



(Mesembryace^,) 



Erect or prostrate fruticuls or frutlets, rarely shrubs, with 

 thick, succulent opposite leaves. Flowers solitary on foot- 

 stalks, consisting of numerous petals and stamens of brilliant 

 colours, opening during sunshine. Fruit a capsule embedded 

 in the calyx, which becomes thickened, generally opening in 

 rays, and hygrometric. 



Above 350 species are enumerated in this family, the 

 greater portion belonging to the genus Mesemhryanthemum. 

 With few exceptions, they are natives of South Africa, 

 growing in dry, hot, sandy places. They vary exceedingly 

 in the form of their leaves, which are always opposite, being 

 flat, cylindrical, thick and fleshy, often three-sided, with 

 toothed margins, resembling the jaws of different animals. 

 Hence the names Tiger-jaws, M. tigrinum ; Dog-jaws, M. 

 caninum ; Cat -jaws, M. felinum, &c. They also contain 

 numerous needle-shaped raphides. The capsules, after 

 ripening, shut and expand according to the moist or dry 

 state of the atmosphere; and on that account have been 

 brought to this country as curiosities. 



At one time this genus was in great repute with botanical 

 amateurs, the Kew collection, a few years ago, containing 

 not less than 250 species. 



Hottentot Fig {Mesemhriianthemum edule). A trailing 

 species, taking its name from the calyx becoming large and 

 fleshy, in shape like a fig ; it is eaten by the Hottentots. The 

 same may be said of M. mquilaterale^ which are eaten by the 

 natives of Australia. They are watery and insipid. 



