.i 



78 



MR. N. E- BROWN : NEW AND OLD 



tlie leaves more glaucous, witli fewer and larger JotSj the peduncle longer^ the 

 bracts always much sliorter (instead of being as long as or longer) than the 

 pednnclc, the calyx usually 5-lobed instead of always 4-lobodj the petals 

 longer and more slcnderj the stamens larger and not hidden, and the stigmas, 

 10 (not^ 8), as long as or longer than the stamens, with spreading tips 

 instead of very short and incurved, as they are in the plant Haworth 

 understood as AJ. rosfraftoH, 



The relative amount to wluoh the leaves become glaucous or green depends 

 upon the amount of direct sunlight they receive ; so that to contrast this 

 character with tlKit of another species is not always of any value, unless both 

 plants are grown side by side and equally exposed to light. Salm-Dyck's 

 figure of this species is excellent. 



Fig, 14 is copied from a drawing at Kew% labelled 

 IciUuw, Haw. March 2(5. 1825." 



a 



Mesenibr, hlhrac- 



M* BIFIDUM, Ilaw, (PI 



34-35). Nearly stemless or with age 



developing short stems 4-5 mm. thick, branching at the base. Leaves sub- 

 equalj mostly 4-5 cm. long, 6-10 mm. broad and 5-8 mm. thick at the base, 

 and of about tlie same thickness throughout, viewed from above gradually 

 tapering from tlie base to an acute or somewhat obtuse apex, and in side 

 view both leaves equally more or less obtusely rounded at the apex or one 

 leaf more acuie than the other^ flat above, rounded on the back at the basal 

 part and keelcMl at tlie iipical part, very shortly or scarcely apiculate, with 

 the keel at the apex curiilaginous, semitransparent and minutely denticulate^, 

 each pair united at the base into a cyliudric body or sheath 13-20 cm. 

 long : surface smooth, glabrous, with the keel at the apex and sometinies 

 (but not always) the margins microscopically puberulous-ciliate, of a bluish 

 glaucous-green, thickly dotted all over^ on the upper side as well as on the 

 back witli dark green, the united part or sheath usually more or less 

 purplish or sometimes deep purple, or in winter of a lighter green than the 

 leaves and very shining^ the leaves being dull. Peduncle 8-10 cm. long, 

 green or tinted with reddish, with a pair of bracts at its base 2-2^ cm. long, 

 quite like the leaves. Calyx 4-lobed, the two outer lobes 10-12 mm. Ion***, 

 leaf-like, keeled^ dotted, the two inner about 7 mm. lono", with broad 

 membranous margins, mucronate at or behind the apex. Corolla about 

 3^- vAw. in diameter, expanding in the morning or about mid-day ; petals 

 numerous, in about 3 series, the outer about 13-15 mm. long, the inner 

 shorter, linear, acute^ yellow. Sti 



not converging, the outer about 7 mm. long, souiewhat spreading from the 

 rest, the inner shorter, anthers whitish. Stigmas 8-10, erect or incurved, 

 3 mm* long, much shorter than the stamens, subulate, pale yellowish. 

 M. biftdum, Haw, Misc. p. 2\) (1803) ; Synop. p. 212 ; & Uev. p. 92 : Ait, 

 Hort. Kew. ed. 2, vol. iii* p. 216: Sender in FL Cap. vol ii. p. 394: 



imens numerous, in several series, erect, 



H.. 



