W^' 



k - 



0.' 



srKciEs or mesembryantheml'ji. 



SI 



two leaf-like 2-toolhecI Lracts at its base. Calyx r)-lobed ; lobes parabolic, 

 more equal tlian in most species, 3 of them more or less membranous. 

 Corolla 3 in. (7^ cm.) in diameter, petals narrow, acute or rarely bifid at the 

 apex, pale stravv-colourod, witli tlie basal part white for a good way up, 

 tinted on the back at the apical part with very pale rosy, very shining. 

 Stamens numerous, 3 lines [G mm.) long, the outer erectly-spreading, the 

 inner crowded ; filaments white ; anthers straw-coloured, not shinintr. 

 Stigmas about 15, hidden among the stamens, couniveiit, short, plumose- 

 subulate, yellowish-green. — 31. deniiculatnm var. glaucum, Haw. Obs. p. 151 

 (1794); Synop. p. 215; & Rev. p. 91. 



South Africa. Locality unknown, introduced in 1793 by Grimwood and 

 Wykes, who raised it from seeds sent to them from South Africa. 





According to Ihe drawing at Kew, labelled '^ Mesm. dentk-tiJat 



um. 



Aug. 23rd, 182G 



" (copied on PI. 9), the loaves are of pale bluish-green 

 with purple tips and without dots. In all probability they are whitish- 



green. 



Haworth (Obs. p. 150) remarks tliiit '^ Tlio attenuation at tlic base of the 

 leaf and its tendency to curve inwards, added to its belno- compressed- 

 triquetrous upwards, will alone abundantly distingui.sh it from all. its 



It is difficult to understand what Kaworth nieant bv tbe leaves 



couii'eiiers. 



being attenuated doiomvanh. The drawing does not represent anything of 

 the kind, unless it be the narrowing at the base from the back to the front 

 of the three old spreading leaves at the base of the plant. 



Only tlie flowers of the variety (jlaucam are described, and the description 

 of them only occurs in the " Synopsis." It is stated to flower at the end of 



April, and the flowers to expand at midday and in the afternoon. 



Bf. iNsrERSUM, X.E.Br. (PI. 6. figs. 19-20). Tlanta. subacaulis, basi 



-'■''' ''-■ " " • Folia 



ramosn. Rami procumbentes 5-18 mm. longi, 2-3 mm. crassi. 



5-7 cm. longa, basi 7-8 mm. lata et d-5 mm. crassa, suba.'qiuilia, acuta, 

 supra plana, dorso basi vaide convexa apice obtuse carinata, basi in corpus- 

 culum cylindrirum vol vaginam 2-4 cm. longum et C-9 mm. crassum 

 connata, glabi-a, glauco-viridia vel purpureo-tincta, dorso crebre punctata^ 

 intus basi pustula viride vel pur[)urea nofata. Flores ignoti. 



Nearly stemless, branching at the base and forming a clump. Branches 

 prostrate, slender, 5-18 mm. long, 2-3 mm. thick. Leaves 5-7 cm. lorn*-, 

 7-8 mm. broad and 4-5 mm. thick at the base, subequal, viewed From above 

 gradually tapering from the base to an acute apex, and in side view of 

 nearly equal thickness throughout or slightly tapering to the apex, flat on 

 the face, rounded on the back at the base and obtusely keeled at t!ie apical 

 part, but the keel is never dilated at the apex, united at their base into a 

 cylindric body or sheath 2-4 cm. long and G-9 mm. thick ; surface smooth, 

 glabrous, glaucous-green, or, when exposed to the sun in the open air, of a 



