402 W. L. Bray. 
and the unusually large flowers — the diameter of the ealyx tube at least 
double that of any other member of the family — are the two noteworthy 
characters of this isolated genus. It is also worthy of remark that Hyperi- 
copsis is the only member of the entire Mediterranean region not included 
in sect. Eufrankenia. 
In what relation it stands genetieally to Eufrankenia is not easily de- 
termined. The habit of the plant, the method of producing the seed and of 
allowing them to escape, the number of seed and their charactisties — ex- 
cept their larger size — are all as in the Frankenia of the same region. But 
notwithstanding that eircumstances are as favorable for its distribution as 
for the other forms, the two facts, 4. That it departs widely enough from 
the type to be called a genus, and 2, that as a genus it is monotypic and 
narrowly endemie, suggest that Hypericopsis should have originated from a 
prehistorie form rather than from any Frankenia of the present day. 
2. South Africa. 
Turning now to the South African or Capland region we find as already 
stated that F. pulverulenta occupies both the coast and the inland salt lagoon 
territory. It may be remarked here that neither F. pulverulenta nor any 
other Frankenia is known to occur between the Capland and the Senegam- 
bian coast. That is to say, the two regions are separated by a zone of over 
10 degrees of latitude from which no plants of this family bave been re- 
ported. It is not surprising therefore, to find that the chief developement 
of the group is endemic, although indeed, the Eufrankenia type appears so 
strongly as to have led to including the species under F. capitata and F. 
laevis, and it is not unlikely that Eufrankenia is represented by other forms 
than F. pulverulenta. Nevertheless this region is to be counted with Oce- 
ania rather than Afra (strictly it is intermediate between these two), and 
I would suggest the distinction of the following species: 
1. F. Krebsii Ch. & Schl. which is very near the Eufrankenia type, but 
although bearing the yellowish ‘seeds of F. laevis, these are two or three 
times the volume of F. laevis seeds and the whole plant — the leaves, but 
especially the flowers — has the more robust build and larger size of sec- 
tion Toichogonia cosmopolita. 
2. F. nothria Thunb., which points to an intimate relation with the 
Australian and Chilan species of section Toichogonia cosmopolita in the very 
large, long flowers 8—12 mm., correspondingly wider, longer seed capsule, 
bearing 1410—20 seeds, which are oblong reddish brown, more than five 
times the volume of F. pulverulenta, slighthy papillate or with chiefly 
smooth water-storing epidermal coat. 
The South African region possesses no such distinct types as those 
which characterize the Australian and South American regions. 
