osa, linearia. _Caps._ carnosa, infera,
polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _bicolorum_ foliis subulatis punctatis laevibus
distinctis, caule frutescente, corollis bicoloribus. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. p. 470._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM tenuifolium fruticescens, flore croceo. _Dill. Elth.
267. t. 202. f. 258._

[Illustration: 59]

Contrary to the _Mesembryanthemum dolabriforme_, lately figured in this
work, this species expands its flowers in the day-time, and that only
when the sun shines powerfully on them; on such occasions, the blossoms
on the top of the branches being very numerous, exhibit a most splendid
appearance.

It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, flowers in July, and is most
readily propagated by cuttings.

Like most of the Cape plants, it requires the shelter of a green-house
during the winter.

[60]

~Lathyrus odoratus. Sweet Pea, or Vetchling.~

_Class and Order._

~Diadelphia Decandria.~

_Generic Character._

_Stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _Cal._ laciniae
superiores 2-breviores.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LATHYRUS _odoratus_ pedunculis bifloris, cirrhis diphyllis, foliolis
ovato-oblongis, leguminibus hirsutis, _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 663._

LATHYRUS distoplatyphyllos hirsutus mollis, magno et peramaeno flore
odoro. _Comm. hort. 2. p. 219. t. 80._

[Illustration: 60]

There is scarcely a plant more generally cultivated than the _Sweet
Pea_, and no wonder, since with the most delicate blossoms it unites an
agreeable fragrance.

Several varieties of this plant are enumerated by authors, but general
cultivation extends to two only, the one with blossoms perfectly white,
the other white and rose-coloured, commonly called the _Painted Lady
Pea_.

The Sweet Pea is described as a native of Sicily, the Painted Lady
Variety as an inhabitant of Ceylon; they have both been introduced since
the time of PARKINSON and EVELYN.

It is an annual, and not a very tender one; seedling plants sown in
Autumn frequently surviving our winters.

As it is desirable to have this plant in flower for as great a length of
time as possible, to have them early, we must sow them in the Autumn,
either in pots or in the open border; if sown in pots, they can the more
readily be secured from any severe weather, by placing them in a hot-bed
frame, a common practice with gardeners who raise them for the London
markets, in which they are in great re