SUCCULENT PLANTS. 



465 



P. rubra, a native of Jamaica, is so deliriously scented as to be known as 

 1 Red Jasmine,' or the ' Frangipani Plant.' P. tricolor, a native of Peru, 

 is figured in Nicholson's 1 Dictionary.' 



South Africa. 



The flora of South Africa is the richest in the world, and, in addition 

 to many other features, it is remarkable as the richest in succulent 

 plants, apart from the Cactaceae. The genera of succulent plants are 

 here the most numerous and the most interesting. They belong to about 

 eight different natural orders, and are particularly strong in Crassulaceae, 

 Ficoideae (Mesembryanthemum), Compositae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphor- 

 biaceae, and Liliaceae. 



Portulaceae. — Portulacaria. — There is one species only, P. Afra, 

 known popularly as 1 Elephant's Food,' and with considerable resemblance 

 to Crassula portulacea. The flowers are rosy, but in this country are 

 produced with extreme rarity. 



Anacampseros. — About nine species of small suffruticose herbs with 

 fleshy leaves compose this genus. A. arachnoides (" Bot. Mag.," 

 t. 1368) has white flowers, A. filamentosa (" Bot. Mag.," t. 1367), rosy 

 flowers, and A. ustulata, is a curious plant with worm-like branches. 



Geraniaeeae. — Belonging to the genera Monsonia, Sarcocaulon, 

 Erodium, and Pelargonium, are many plants with fine ornamental flowers, 

 perfectly entitled to be classed among succulents ; but, when they are 

 cultivated in this country, it is usual to regard them as a set by them- 

 selves. They are rarely seen except in Botanic Gardens. 



Crassulaceae. — Crassula. — This well-known genus, numbering more 

 than 120 species, is almost confined to the Cape. It is known from allied 

 genera here in question by having free petals, or petals connate at the 

 base only. 



The following is a selection of some of the best kinds : — 

 C. arborescens, substantial in habit and foliage, but not free-flowering ; 

 C. lactea, flowers white, freely produced, and responding to liberal 

 cultivation ; G. lycopodioides, a plant with much resemblance to a 

 Lycopodium ; C. Cooperi, a small-growing but pretty, free-flowering 

 plant ; C. quadrifida, free-flowering, flowers pinkish, the parts in fours ; 

 C. hemispherica, with shoots, each forming a flat mosaic of leaves ; 

 C. pyramidalis, an exceedingly curious plant with cylindrical shoots, 

 and leaves tightly superposed so as to show only their edges ; 

 C. cordata with small and numerous flowers, interspersed with innumer- 

 able tiny plantlets ; and C. marginata, with shoots pendulous. 



Bochea. — Nearly allied to Crassula, but the petals are connate into a 

 tube. B. coccinea ("Bot. Mag.," t. 495) is the old Kalosanthes or 

 Crassula coccinea, a very ornamental plant deserving of careful culture 

 and formerly much grown for exhibition. B. jasminea (" Bot. Mag.," 

 t. 2178) and B. versicolor (" Bot. Mag.," t. 2356) are the other two 

 species, the first with white flowers, the second with red and much like 

 B. coccinea. The plants universally known in gardens as Bochea 

 falcata and B. perfoliata are both Crassulas, but form a very distinct 

 group. 



