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MH. X. E. BROWN : NEW AND OLD 



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liicli in soino cases have replaced the true species wlicre the hitter has died 

 out. As an instance of recent origin, and in years to come one that niiglit 

 not be very liable to detection or suspicion, I may mention that there are 

 ilants c-rown nndor the names of 3f. Bolusii and M. shuiilans that are neither 



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of them the true species, being hybritls between those two plants 

 also hybrids derived from M. biloh 



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There are 

 cultivation that are not at all like 

 tlic true plant although bearing its name. In the course of time plants 

 raised from their seeds will probably differ more and more, and may possibly 

 at length supjilant the original species in gardens, especially as (I am 

 credibly informed) they are gradually becoming extinct in their native 

 habitat. Among other informants, Mr. C. J. Hewlett, under the date of 

 March It), 1918, writes concerning M. Bohmi and M. simulans, that " They 

 ■e o-radually becoming extinct on account ol' the severe droughts experienced 



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in the Aberdeen and Graaf Reinet districts, where they often go 20 months 

 without rain, every veldt-bush is dried up and cattle forage about for these 

 succulent Mesembryanthcmums. There used to be lots of A/. Bolusii, but 



now it is hardly to be found." . . 



Descriptions of species of this genus, with perhaps a few exceptions, 

 cannot proper! v be made from dried naaterlal, for distinctive characters w hich 

 may be very apparent on living plants often absolutely disappear when 

 the specimens are dried, so that they cannot possibly bo correctly identified. 

 Much more attention also needs to be taken with regard to their geographical 

 limitation than has hitherto been the case, for according to my experience 

 and from information I have obtained, the same species rarely has a wide 



more allied species often resemble one another so much, 



range. 



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especially when out of flower, that when seen growing in distant localities 

 may easily be uiistaken for the same species unless compared side by side 



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alive, and when 



dried Mould in some oases be indistintrnisbaLle, 



Hence I believe the localities given in the ' Flora Oapensis ' are sometimes 

 open to the suspicion that they belong to more than one species. 



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uceulent plants of South Africa are more varied in type than those 

 of any othor region, and form a conspicuous feature in its very remarkable 

 Floni. To many botanists and horticulturists alike these plants are of very 

 great interest, so that it is a matter of great regret to learn from various 

 South African botanists that many species are in danger of complete 

 extermination by ostriches, who bunt for and greedily devour certain kinds. 

 Numbers of them, so far as known, are very restricted in range ; therefore, 

 in a few years' time, unless care is taken to preserve them, some of these 

 remarkable plants may have disappeared for ever. In reference to this, 

 Dr I. B. Pole Evans, Chief, t)ivision of Botany, Pretoria, in a letter to me 

 dated May 25, 1918, writes as follows :— " I have just returned from a tour 



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