Flora Medica

CRASSULACE^E.Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 1 63.SEMPERVIVUM.Calyx concave, permanent, with from 6 to 12, more or lessdeep, uniform, fleshy, rather acute, segments. Petals as manyas the segments of the calyx, and somewhat larger, lanceolate,acute, channelled, equal, spreading, withering. A small laceratedscale, at the base of each carpel. Filaments as many, ortwice as many, as the petals, opposite to them, but not so long,when more numerous, alternate, awl-shaped, spreading carpelsas many as the stamens, oblong, pointed, compressed, each;terminating in a spreading style, with a blunt stigma when ; ripebursting along their inner margins.573. S. tectorum Linn. sp. pi. 664. Eng. Bot. t. 1320. Fl.Lond. t. 29. DC. prodr.iii. 413. Common on roofs and walls.(Houseleek Hauslaub ;Germ.)Root fibrous, crowned with several rosaceous tufts of numerous, oblong,acute, keeled, fringed, extremely succulent leaves. Stem fromthe centre of one of these tufts, a foot high, erect, round, downy,clothed with several, more narrow, sessile, alternate leaves, and terminating in a sort of many-flowered cyme, with spiked branches. Flowerslarge, pale rose-coloured, without scent. Segments of the calyx 12 ormore, with a similar number of petals, stamens and pistils.Theleaves are cooling, when applied externally, and frequently renewed.They possess moreover an astringent property, which is rather salutaryin many cases. The Dispensatory describes a beautiful white highlyvolatile coagulum, formed of the filtrated juice of these leaves, with anequal quantity of rectified spirit of wine. Smith.SEDUM.Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5. Stamens twice as many. Hypogynousscales entire or nearly so. Carpels 5. Succulent herbaceousplants or undershrubs.574. S. Telephium Linn. sp. pi. 616. E.Bot. 1. 1319. SmithEng.fi. ii. 316. DC. prodr. iii. 402. Various parts of Europein fields, hedges, and bushy places. (Orpine.)Root of several oblong, tapering, white knobs. Herb smooth. Stems2 feet high, erect, simple, leafy, round, spotted with red. Leaves scattered,sessile, ovate, spreading, fleshy, more or less bluntly toothed orserrated, with a stout midrib. Flowers crimson, rarely white, indense, corymbose, terminal or partly axillary, tufts, interspersed withfleshy toothed bracts. Smith. Stamens not' longer than the corolla.Refrigerant, and slightly astringent. Leaves boiled in milk are commendedin diarrhoea.275 T 2