THEIR FORMS AND FUNCTIONS. 499 
covered on both surfaces with sunk gland-like globules of watery 
tissue, and in the young state bearing raised bodies of the same 
nature. ‘The broad petioles are grooved above, slightly dilated 
at the base, and decurrent upon the stem, forming shallow ridges ; 
the lamina is also decurrent upon the petiole. 
The terminal bud is conical, strongly angular, and protected by 
three or four leaves that are concave at the base and slightly 
revolute at the edges, but otherwise nearly flat, and sessile or 
subsessile. 
There are three axillary collateral buds placed antero-posteriorly. 
A solitary flower-bud lies next the stem, and in the middle isa 
leaf-bud well advanced ; a second leaf-bud arises in front of the 
latter and close to the petiole by the groove of which it is partly 
protected. It arises at a considerably later period than the 
other two that are already well advanced and protected by the 
leaves of the terminal bud while they are still erect. The 
whole conformation of the plant with its fleshy, crystalline leaves 
and fleshy stems is evidently intended as a safeguard against 
drought. 
Mesembryanthemum blandum, Haw., has the leaves opposite, 
Fig. 4. 
Mesembryanthemum multipunctatum, ad nat.—/, Z, pair of leaves connate, and 
sheathing in their lower half ; p, from this point to the base the leaves are 
attached to the axis, and axillary buds arise exactly at this place; a, axis ; 
yl, next younger pair of leaves. 
3-5 cm. long, rounded on the dorsal edge, very 
more decidedly so at the 
which 
triquetrous, 
shallowly grooved on the upper surface, 
base, and connate there, forming a sheath 3-4*5 cm. long, 
2N 
LINN. JOURN.—BOTANY, VOL. XXX. 
