[32]

Mesembryanthemum dolabriforme.  Hatchet-leav’d Fig-Marigold.

Class and Order.

Icosandria Pentagynia.

Generic Character.

Cal. 5-fidus. Petala numerosa, linearia. Caps. carnosa infera, polysperma.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM dolabriforme acaule, foliis dolabriformibus punctatis. Lin.  Syst.  Veg. p. 470.

FICOIDES capensis humilis, foliis cornua cervi referentibus, petalis luteis noctiflora, Bradl. suc. 1. p. 11. t. 10. Dillen Hort.  Elth. t. 191. f. 237.

[Illustration:  No. 32]

Though many Latin names of plants, as Geranium, Hepatica, Convolvulus, &c. are more familiar to the ear, and more generally used than their English ones, yet Mesembryanthemum though used by some, appears too long to be generally adopted, its English name of Fig-marigold is doubtless to be preferred.

The Fig-marigolds are a very numerous tribe, chiefly inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope; no less than thirty-three species are figured in that inestimable work the Hortus Elthamensis of Dillenius.  As most of these plants grow readily from slips, or cuttings, and require only the shelter of a common greenhouse, and as they recommend themselves to our notice, either from the extreme singularity of their foliage, the beauty of their flowers, or the peculiarity of their expansion, so they are a favourite class of plants with many.

The present species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and is particularly distinguished by having leaves somewhat resembling a hatchet, whence its name; it is as hardy as most, and flowers as freely, but its blossoms fully expand in the evening and night only.

It is very readily propagated by cuttings.

[33]

Aster tenellus.  Bristly-leav’d Aster.

Class and Order.

Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.

Generic Character.

Recept. nudum. Pappus simplex. Cor. radii plures 10. Cal. imbricati squamae inferiores patulae.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

ASTER tenellus foliis subfiliformibus aculeato-ciliatis, pedunculis nudis, calycibus hemisphaericis aequalibus. Lin.  Syst.  Vegetab. p. 760.

ASTER parvus aethiopicus, chamaemeli floribus, tamarisci aegyptiaci foliis tenuissime denticulatis. Pluk. alm. 56. t. 271. f. 4. Raii.  Suppl. 164. n. 84.

[Illustration:  No. 33]

Most of the numerous species of this genus flower about Michaelmas, hence their vulgar name of Michaelmas-Daisy; a name exceptionable not only on account of its length, but from its being a compound word. Aster, though a Latin term, is now so generally received, that we shall make no apology for adopting it.