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Mesembryanthemum dolabriforme or Fig Marigold
Mesembryanthemum dolabriforme. Hatchet-leav'd Fig-Marigold
Class and Order
Icosandria Pentagynia
Generic Character
Cal. 5-fidus. Petala numerosa, linearia. Caps. carnosa infera,
polysperma
Specific Character and Synonyms
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM dolabriforme acaule, foliis dolabriformibus
punctatis. Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 470.
FICOIDES capensis humilis, foliis cornua cervi referentibus, petalis
luteis noctiflora, Bradl. suc. 1. p. 11. t. 10. Dillen Hort. Elth.
t. 191. f. 237.
Though many Latin names of plants, as Geranium, Hepatica,
Convolvulus, &c. are more familiar to the ear, and more generally
used than their English ones, yet Mesembryanthemum though used by
some, appears too long to be generally adopted, its English name of
Fig-marigold is doubtless to be preferred.
The Fig-marigolds are a very numerous tribe, chiefly inhabitants of
the Cape of Good Hope; no less than thirty-three species are figured
in that inestimable work the Hortus Elthamensis of Dillenius. As
most of these plants grow readily from slips, or cuttings, and
require only the shelter of a common greenhouse, and as they
recommend themselves to our notice, either from the extreme
singularity of their foliage, the beauty of their flowers, or the
peculiarity of their expansion, so they are a favorite class of
plants with many.
The present species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and is
particularly distinguished by having leaves somewhat resembling a
hatchet, whence its name; it is as hardy as most, and flowers as
freely, but its blossoms fully expand in the evening and night only.
It is very readily propagated by cuttings.
The Botanical Magazine or Flower-Garden
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