100 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
leaves, and large sun-like flowers, produce a most striking effect. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and 
was introduced in 1774, by Mr. Masson, who brought many plants from that colony. The seeds should be 
sown on a hotbed in March or April, and the young plants planted out in June, into a dry sandy or gravelly 
soil, in the open ground, or on rockwork. The plants thus treated, and allowed plenty of light and air, will 
produce a profusion of flowers, which, from their size and brilliant colour, will have a dazzling effect, and will 
ripen seed abundantly. This species requires to be planted in the open ground, as it never flowers well in a pot. 
2.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CRYSTALLINUM, Lin. THE COMMON ICE-PLANT. 
Specific Character. —Plant diffusely procumbent, herbaceous, plant appear as if covered with ice. Leaves ovate, alternate, stem- 
covered with large glittering papulas on every part, which makes the clasping, undulated. Flowers axillary, almost sessile.-—(G. Don.) 
Description, &c.— The flowers of this species are white, and they are neither so large nor so showy as those 
of M. pomeridianum. The ice plant is, however, remarkable for the little globular protuberances, or rather 
blisters, filled with a soft, watery matter, which glisten over the whole plant, and make it look as though it were 
covered with ice. The plant is procumbent. This species is a native of Europe, as well as Africa ; for it is found 
on the sandy shores of Greece, near Athens, and in the Canary Isles. It was introduced in 1775- Its culture is 
nearly the same as that of M. pomeridianum , though it does not succeed so well in the open border, very frequently 
failing to produce flowers. Some persons account for this, by supposing that there are two varieties of this 
species, one a biennial, which is the true M. crystallinum , and the other an annual, which is called by Haworth 
M. glaciale. The best way is to grow the plant in very poor soil, or on rockwork, where its glistening leaves 
and starry flowers produce a very good effect. 
3.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM PINNATIFIDUM, Lin. THE PINNATIFID-LEAVED ICE PLANT. 
Engraving. —Bot. Mag. t. 67. 
Specific Character.- —Stems diffuse. Leaves opposite, oblong, bluntly pinnatitid, papulose. Petals shorter than the calyx.—(G. Don.) 
Description, &c. —Perhaps the least beautiful of this showy family of plants. The leaves are what is some¬ 
times called fiddle-shaped, and though covered with icy globules, they have not the brilliant glistening appearance 
of those of the common ice-plant. The flowers are yellow, but small, and produced in the forks of the branches ; 
the stems are reddish. The plant is a native of the Cape of Good Hope ; but it is said to be found also in Chili. 
It was introduced in 1774. 
4.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM TRICOLOR, Willd. THE THREE-COLOURED OR PURPLE-EYED 
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. 
Engravings. —Bot. Mag. t. 2144; and our fig. 6, in Plate 18. 
Synonyme. —M. Pyropeum, var. roseum, Dec. M. roseurn, Haw. 
Specific Character.— Plant almost stemless. Leaves linear, 
broadest at the apex, obtuse, rather scabrous from papula. Flowers 
pedunculate. Lobes of calyx 5, oblong, one of them very long. 
—(G. Don.) 
Description, &c.—A very small species with scarcely any true stem, and deriving nearly all its height fiom 
the long upright footstalk of the flower. The petals are pink, becoming whitish at the base, and the anthers are 
of a very dark purple, almost black. It is not known exactly of what country it is a native, but it is supposed 
to come from the Cape of Good Cape. Seeds of it were sent by M. Otto, of Berlin, to Mi. Anderson of the 
Chelsea Botanic Garden, about 1828. 
