[Illustration: 68]
By the old Botanists, this plant was considered as a _Sedum_; and to
this day it is generally known in the gardens by the name of the _Cobweb
Sedum_, though its habit or general appearance, independent of its
fructification, loudly proclaims it a _Houseleek_.
In this species the tops of the leaves are woolly; as they expand they
carry this woolly substance with them, which being thus extended,
assumes the appearance of a cobweb, whence the name of the plant.
Like most of the Houseleeks it is best kept in a pot, or it will grow
well and appear to great advantage on a wall or piece of rock-work; the
more it is exposed to the sun, the more colour will enliven its stalks
and foliage, and the more brilliant will be its flowers; the latter make
their appearance in July.
It is propagated by offsets which it sends forth in abundance.
It is no uncommon practice to treat this beautiful species of Houseleek,
as a native of a warm climate; under such an idea we have seen it nursed
up in stoves, while the plant spontaneously braves the cold of the
Switzerland Alps.
[69]
~Rosa muscosa. Moss Rose.~
_Class and Order._
~Icosandria Polygynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Petala_ 5. _Cal._ urceolatus, 5-fidus, carnosus, collo coarctatus.
_Sem._ plurima, hispida, calycis interiori lateri affixa.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ROSA _muscosa_ caule petiolisque aculeatis, pedunculis calycibusque
pilosissimis. _Miller's Dict._
[Illustration: 69]
If there be any one genus of plants more universally admired than the
others, it is that of the Rose--where is the Poet that has not
celebrated it? where the Painter that has not made it an object of his
imitative art?
In the opinion of MILLER, the Moss Rose, or Moss Province, as
it is frequently called, is a perfectly distinct species;
LINNAEUS considers it as a variety only of the _centifolia_: as
it is found in our Nurseries in a double state only, and as we are
ignorant of what country it is the produce, the decision of this matter
must be left to future observation and inquiry.
Though it may not increase so fast by suckers, nor be increased so
readily by layers, as the _centifolia_, there is no difficulty in
propagating it either way; the latter mode is usually adopted.
[70]
~Mesembryanthemum barbatum. Bearded Fig-Marigold.~
_Class and Order._
~Icosandria Pentagynia~.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-fidus. Petala numerosa, linearia. _Caps._ carnosa, infera,
polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _barbatum_, foliis subovatis papulosis distinctis,
apice barbatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 469._
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM radiatum, ramulis prolixis recumbentibus. _Dillen.
Hort. Elth. 245. t. 190. f. 234._
[Illustration: 70]
The leaves of this species have small hairs, issuing like rays from
their points, whence its name of _barbatum_; there are two others
figured by DILLENIUS, whose leaves have a great similarity of
structure, and which are considered by LINNAEUS as varieties of
this species; our plant is the _Stellatum_ of MILLER's _Dict._
_ed._ 6. 4_to_.
Like most of this tribe it inhabits the Cape, flowers in July, and is
readily propagated by cuttings.
[71]
~Statice sinuata. Purple-cup't Statice, or Thrift.~
_Class and Order._
~Pentandria Pentagynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 1-phyllus, integer, plicatus, scariosus. _Petala_ 5. _Sem._ 1.
superum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
STATICE _sinuata_ caule herbaceo, foliis radicalibus alternatim pinnato
sinuatis: caulinis ternis triquetris subulatis decurrentibus. _Lin.
Syst. Vegetab._ _p._ 301.