  Class and Order. Icosandria Pentagynia. Generic Character. Cal. 5-fidus. Petala numerosa linearia. Caps. carnosa infera polysperma. Specific Character and Synonyms. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM aureum foliis cylindrico-triquetris punctatis distinctis, pistillis atro purpurascentibus. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. p. 1060. Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 190. This Mesembryanthemum is one of the taller and more upright species, as well as the earliest in point of flowering, producing its blossoms from February to May; these are large and of a bright orange hue, the pistilla in the centre are purple, and serve at once to distinguish and embellish them. It was first described in the 10th ed. of Linn. Syst. Nat. and afterwards inserted in the Hort. Kew. of Mr. Aiton, who informs us that it is a native of the Cape, and was cultivated by Mr. Miller, in the year 1750. Prof. Murray omits it in his 12th ed. of the Syst. Vegetab. of LinnÆus, as does Prof. Gmelin in the last edition of Linn. Syst. Nat. The facility with which this tribe in general is increased by cuttings is well known; this is raised as readily as the others. |
|
