Herbs or undershrubs, rarely shrubs. Stem and leaves usually succulent. Leaves without stipules. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Petals 3-20, free or united below, hypogynous or nearly so. Stamens as many or twice as many as the petals. Filaments free. Anthers turned inwards. Carpels as many as the petals, free or united at the base, usually with a scale-like appendage. Ovules numerous, rarely (_Crassula_) 1-2 in each carpel. Fruit-carpels follicular. Seeds with a very scanty albumen or without albumen.--Genera 10, species 400. (Plate 59.) 1. Petals free or nearly so. 2 Petals united below into a distinct, usually long tube. 5 2. Stamens as many as the sepals or petals, 3-9, usually 5. Sepals free or nearly so. Petals white or reddish. Leaves opposite.--Species 180. Some of them are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Including _Bulliarda_ DC., _Dinacria_ Harv., _Helophytum_ Eckl. & Zeyh., and _Tillaea_ L.) =Crassula= L. Stamens twice as many as the sepals, rarely (_Sedum_) equalling the sepals in number, but then leaves alternate. 3 3. Flowers 4-5-merous, very rarely 6-7-merous. Sepals free or nearly so. Leaves usually scattered.--Species 25. North Africa and high mountains of East Africa. Some species are used as vegetables or as medicinal or ornamental plants. =Sedum= L. Flowers 6-20-merous, very rarely 5-merous. Sepals more or less united. Leaves usually rosulate. 4 4. Scale-like appendages of the carpels broad, petaloid. Petals linear-lanceolate, inconspicuous, reddish or yellowish.--Species 10. North-west Africa. (_Petrophyes_ Webb). =Monanthes= Haw. Scale-like appendages of the carpels small or wanting. Petals lanceolate, brightly coloured.--Species 70. North Africa and northern Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. “House-leek.” (Including _Aeonium_ Webb, _Aichryson_ Webb, and _Greenovia_ Webb & Berth.) =Sempervivum= L. 5. Flowers 4-merous. Leaves opposite. 6 Flowers 5-6-merous. 8 [Illustration: CRASSULACEAE. _FLOW. PL. AFR._ _Pl. 59._ J. Fleischmann del. Kalanchoë laciniata DC. _A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise. _C_ Cross-section of carpels. _D_ Fruit. _E_ Seed.] [Illustration: SAXIFRAGACEAE. _FLOW. PL. AFR._ _Pl. 60._ J. Fleischmann del. Brexia madagascariensis Thouars _A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise. _C_ Cross-section of ovary.] 6. Calyx cleft nearly to the middle, large, inflated. Corolla urn-or almost bell-shaped. Stamens 8. Carpels not diverging. Stigmas capitate. Undershrubs.--Species 5. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (_Crassuvia_ Comm.) =Bryophyllum= Salisb. Calyx divided to the middle or beyond, usually small. 7 7. Calyx divided to the middle, small, bell-shaped. Corolla tube-or bell-shaped; segments short and broad, triangular to orbicular. Stamens 8. Carpels diverging. Stigmas capitate.--Species 15. Madagascar. (Under _Kalanchoe_ Adans.) =Kitchingia= Bak.