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OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 167 
1.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM ALBIDUM Lin. THE WHITE-LEAVED FIG-MARIGOLD. 
Enecravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 1824; and our jig. 1, in Pl. 33. 
Speciric CuaracTer.—Leaves very thick, subulate, three-cornered, obtuse, with an acumen, but semiterete at the base, quite entire. 
Description, &c.—This species is one of those which are rather shy of flowering, and when it is in blossom, 
the flowers open about eight in the morning, and continue open for two hours only. ‘They then close till about 
eight in the evening, when they again expand and remain open for two hours longer. They have an agreeable 
fragrance, and are very ornamental. The plant is propagated by cuttings, which, like those of most other succulents, 
require to be dried before they are put into the ground. The species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence 
it was introduced in 1714. 
2.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM TRICOLOR Willd. THE THREE-COLOURED FIG-MARIGOLD. 
Eneravincs.—Bot. Mag., t. 2144; Paxt. Mag. of Bot., vol. ix., p. 219; and our fig, 2, in Pl. 33. 
| Speciric CuaracTer.—Subcaulescent. Leaves dotted, linear-spatulate, connate, convex on the lower surface, somewhat hollow above. 
Description, &c.—A very pretty little annual plant, which should be sown in pots in the month of March, 
and the pots plunged in a hotbed. When the plants come up they should be removed into smaller pots in very 
sandy soil, and after being gradually hardened, they should be placed in a greenhouse, where they should stand 
very near the light. In very warm sunny situations, the pots may occasionally be plunged in the open ground, 
where the plants will produce a brilliant effect during the summer months from the great abundance and brilliant 
colour of their flowers. Of these plants Paxton observes, ‘‘ wherever they may be kept, they should always be well 
exposed to the sun, for the flowers will not expand except under the influence of its rays. They continue blooming 
for several months, and are interesting even when covered with nothing but seed-vessels.” For saving seeds, he adds, 
‘a few plants should be reserved in a frame, and from six to a dozen capsules left on each, removing all the other 
flowers that show themselves.’ The species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced in 1795. 
3.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM RUBROCINCTUM Haw. THE RED-EDGED FIG-MARIGOLD. 
Encravincs.—Bot. Reg., t. 1732; and our jig. 3, in Pl. 33. flowered. Leaves dark-green edged with red, very smooth. Bracteas 
Sreciric Cuaracter.—Stem ascending, branched. Peduncle one- | connate. Flowers very large. 
Description, &c.—This is generally considered the largest species of the genus, and it is remarkable for 
the splendour of its flowers, which are extremely large, and for the red border to the leaves, which is carried up 
along the keel on the back. The species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced about 
1830. It1is much more hardy than most of the plants belonging to the genus, and has remained for several years 
in the open air, being only protected from the frost by a mat. 
4.—MESEMBRYANTHEMUM INCLAUDENS Haw. THE NEVER-CLOSING FIG-MARIGOLD. 
Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 1663; Bot. Rep., t. 388; and our fig. 4, in Pl. 33. 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Leaves hatchet-shaped, sharply crenulated. Corolla always open. Inner petals roundish. 
” 
Description, &c,.—‘ This,” it is observed in the ‘ Botanical Magazine,’ ‘‘is one of the most desirable species 

of this numerous genus, both on account of the brilliancy of its flowers and because they remain fully expanded 
night and day. Flowering branches when cut off will continue unchanged for days together, so that they may 


