=1.= AIZOIDEÆ have hypogynous or perigynous flowers with (4–) 5 perianth-leaves; stamens single, or (by splitting) in groups of 2–3, alternating with the perianth-leaves. The gynœceum (with 3–5 carpels) has 3–5 loculi in the ovary, and most frequently numerous ovules in each loculus, borne on the central placenta formed by the edges of the carpels. The fruit is a capsule. The inflorescences are dichasia and unipared scorpioid cymes.--_Aizoon_, _Mollugo_, _Sesuvium_, and others are herbs or bushes, most frequently hairy. =2.= MESEMBRIANTHEMEÆ have semi- or wholly-epigynous flowers.--_Tetragonia._ The perianth is 4 (more rarely 3–5–6)-merous. Stamens single, or (by splitting) in groups alternating with the perianth-leaves. There is an indefinite number of carpels, and each loculus of the ovary contains _only_ 1 pendulous ovule. Fruit a nut or drupe. The flowers arise singly in the leaf-axils, with an accessory foliage-bud below them; in some instances there is also an accessory flower between this bud and the flower. Southern hemisphere, especially at the Cape; _T. expansa_, New Zealand Spinach, is a fleshy plant which is cultivated as a pot-herb (Japan, Austr., S. Am.).--_Mesembrianthemum_: the flowers are 5-merous; the numerous linear petals and the still more numerous stamens all arise by the splitting of 5 or 4 protuberances (primordia) alternating with the sepals. The ovary presents another characteristic peculiarity: the carpels alternating with the 5–4 stamens form an ovary (with several loculi) with the ovules at first borne, as in other cases, on the _inner_ corner of the inwardly-turned carpels; but during the subsequent development the whole ovary is so turned round that the placentæ become parietal and the ovules assume, apparently, a position very rarely met with in the vegetable kingdom: on the dorsal suture of the carpels. Shrubs or under-shrubs, more rarely herbs with fleshy stems and simple, entire, more frequently thick or triangular leaves, containing a quantity of water. The flowers open about noon, and are brightly coloured, generally red or red-violet, but odourless. The capsules dehisce in rainy weather. 300 species, mostly found at the Cape. Some are ornamental plants. _M. crystallinum_ (the Ice-plant) and others are covered with peculiar, bladder-like, sparkling hairs, the cell-sap of which contains salt--these serve as reservoirs of water. Family 8. =Cactifloræ.= The position of this family is very doubtful; but it seems in many respects to approach _Mesembrianthemum_. Some botanists place it near to the Ribesiaceæ; others, again, to the Passifloraceæ. Only 1 order.