340 
C0UR0UPITA 
(p. 156), and followed by large spherical woody capsules (whence 
the name of cannon-ball tree). 
Cousinia Cass. Compositae (xi). 210 sp. Orient, (p. 194). 
Crambe Tourn. ex Linn. Cruciferae (11. 10). 20 sp. Eur., Medit., As., 
Polynes., Patagonia. C . maritima L. (sea-kale) on the coast of Brit. 
Its leaves are fleshy and coated with wax (p. 186). The young leaves, 
blanched by tying them together, form a favourite vegetable. 
Crantzia Scop. = Alloplectus Mart. 
Crassula Dill, ex Linn. (excl. Dinacria Harv., and Tillaea Michx.). 
Crassulaceae. 150 sp. S. Afr., a few Abyss, and Himal. Chiefly 
succulent-leaved xerophytes. In C. lycopodioides Lam. the leaves are 
narrow and closely packed, giving to the plant the habit of a 
Lycopodium. In C.falcata Wendl. (Rochea falcata DC.) the connate 
decussate leaves stand almost edgewise. They are very fleshy and 
have a peculiar covering upon the surface; some of the epidermal cells 
are swollen above the rest into large bladders which meet one another 
over the whole surface. At first these are living and contain water, 
but when the leaf is mature they are dead and full of air, whilst their 
walls are infiltrated with quantities of silica. An effective protection 
against excessive evaporation is thus afforded. In C. nemorosa Endl. 
there is vegetative reproduction (p. 113) by the formation of young 
plants in the infl. in place of firs. 
Crassulaceae. Dicotyledons (Archichl. Rosales). 15 gen. with 450 sp. 
cosmop., but chiefly in S. Afr. They form a very natural group. 
Most are perennials living in dry (especially rocky) places and exhibit 
xerophytic characters, fleshy leaves and stem, often tufted growth, 
close packing of leaves upon one another, waxy surface, sunk sto- 
mata, &c. (see p. 165). Vegetative reproduction is frequent; it is 
usually effected by means of rhizomes or offsets; some sp. form 
bulbils, &c. (e.g. Crassula), others form adventitious buds upon the 
leaves (e.g. Bryophyllum). Firs, usually in cymes (cincinni), $ or 
rarely unisexual, actinomorphic with very regular construction. The 
formula may be thus given, Kn, Cn, An + n , G where n represents 
any number from 3 to 30. Calyx persistent. Corolla sometimes 
(e.g. Cotyledon) gamopetalous. Sta. frequently obdiplostemonous. 
The insertion of parts is usually perigynous, but the receptacle is not 
deeply hollowed. Cpls. frequently slightly united at the base. At 
the base of each there is commonly a honey-secreting scale. Ovules 
usually 00. Fruit usually a group of follicles with very small seeds. 
Endosperm none or very little. The firs, are mostly protandrous and 
chiefly visited by flies, &c., their honey being easily obtainable. The 
chief genera are thus grouped by Schonland (in Nat, Pfi.) around Sedum : 
f Sempervivum 
Sedum -j Cotyledon Bryophyllum 
Crassula 
[Placed in Rosales (Benth.- Hooker); Saxifraginae (Warming).] 
