568 R. Marloth: Species novae austro-africanae Euphorbiae generis. I 
long and 1 cm in diam.; the leaves, which appear only for a short time 
after rain, are 10—15 mm long; diam. of cyathium, 8—10 mm. — 
South Africa: Growing in the stony plains of the desert „Namib“, 
near Tschaukaib, at an altitude of 800 m and a distance of 50 km from 
the coast of Angra Pequena. Marloth no. 4635. — This is the plant 
figured in Schultze!) as E. Marlothii Pax, and although the name is 
given on the authority of Prof. Pax, it is obviously an error. Euphorbia 
Marlothii belongs to another section, being very different in appearance 
and systematic characters. A fairly good figure of the true E. Marlothü 
is given by Berger in ,Sukkulente Euphorbien“, p. 117. 
4. Euphorbia crassipes Marloth, l. c., p. 318, fig. 4. (Sect. Dacty- 
lanthes. — Caulis brevis globoso-cylindricus, ramis crassis numerosis 
brevibus cylindricis. Cyathia in apicibus ramorum stipitata, basin 3—5 
foliolis spathulatis ciliatis suffulta. Involucrum campanulatum lobis ovatis 
acerato-ciliatis, glandulis patentibus, concavo-bilabiatis, labio superiori 
brevi, emarginato, labio inferiori breviter 3—4 dentato. Pedunculi de- 
florati persistentes inermes. Styli inferne coaliti apice sub-bilobi. — 
The stem is 10—15 em thick and high, flattened at the apex, and 
bearing numerous short fleshy branches, the lower ones gradually 
shrivelling up and exposing the bare stem. Sometimes the stem remains 
quite short and buried in the ground, the branches forming a rosette 
15—20 cm in diam. Length of branches 4—6 cm, their diam. 10— 
15 mm; length of persistent peduncles (floriferous branchlets) 15—20 mm, 
they are woody but not sharp pointed. Diam. of cyathium 4 mm, 
without the teeth of the glands. — South Africa: Growing in stony 
ground of the karroo, near Prince Albert and Beaufort West. Marloth 
no. 4397. — This is nearly allied to E. anacantha Boissier, but easily 
distinguished by the persistent stalks of the inflorescences. 
5. Euphorbia esculenta Marloth, 1. c., p. 319. (Sect. Pseudomedusea 
Berger.) — (See figure in: Marloth, Das Kapland Jena, 1908, p. 247.) — 
Planta succulenta, habitu E. Caput Medusae, sed cyathiis differens. In- 
volucrum campanulatum lobis brevibus conniventibus, valde albo-fim- 
briatis; glandulis minimis calliformibus brunneis verticaliter adpressis. 
— The stem is obconical or club-shaped, buried in the ground, flat at 
the apex, 10—20 cm in diam., bearing numerous thick branches arran- 
ged in a rosette of half a meter in diam., each branch being from 5— 
15 cm long and 15—20 mm thick. The flowers are aggregated at the 
ends of the branches, white, sweet-scented like violets. — South Africa: 
Klipplaat in the Eastern karroo, flowering in spring. Marloth no. 4162. 
— This plant is very common in the karroo of Graaff Reinet, Aberdeen, 
and Jansenville, and forms a very nutritious food for the stock in times 
of drought. Formerly it was also occasionally roasted in the ashes for 
human use. Owing to its resemblance to E. Caput Medusae, it has been 
often quoted under this name. The latter, however, is not edible, and 
possesses flowers of quite a different structure. 
1) Schultze, L., Aus Namaland und Kalahari, Jena 1907, p. 88. 
