Tab. 8703. 
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM Priuansit. 
South Africa. 
FicorpkEak, Tribe Mesemprykak. 
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, Linn. ; ‘Benth, et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 854, 
Mesembryanthemum Pillansii, Kensit in De Wild. Pl. Nov. Hort. Then. 
vol. ii. p. 3, t. 57; species M, lacero, Haw., affinis sed petalis longe 
spathulatis in genere insignis. 
Suffrutex ramosus, 45-60 cm. altus, omnino glaber, ramis ancipitibus rubes- 
centibus. Folia 3-3-5 em. longa, 6-9 mm. Jata, 8-10 mm. crassa, patula, 
incurva, acute triquetra, carina saepe eroso-dentata vel interdum in- 
tegra, apice mucronato-acuta, glauco-viridia. Flores solitarii, terminales. 
Pedicelli 1-1-3 em. longi. Calyx 5-lobus, glauco-virens; tubus late 
~~ obconicus, circiter 1-3-1-5 cm. diametro; lobi inaequales, 1-1-5 cm. longi, 
foliiformes, tribus late membranaceo-marginatis. Corolla 4-4°5 em: 
diametro ; petala biformia, exteriora numerosa, 3-seriata, alia patula, alia 
erecto-incurva, 1°5 em. longa, longe spathulata, unguibus filiformibus 
albis et laminis elliptico-lanceolatis obtusis 2°5-3 mm. latis pulchre pur- 
pureis ; interiora numerosa, breviora, supra stamina arcte incurva, filiformia, 
alba. Stamina numerosa, supra ovarium incurva, alba. Ovariwm latum, 
depressum, apice concavum, 10-loculare ; stigmata 10, minuta, conniventia. 
—N. E. Brown. 
The very distinct and somewhat peculiar Mesembryan- 
themum here figured was first met with in J anuary, 1907, 
at Moutons Vley, near Piquetberg, Cape Colony, at an 
elevation of about 2,000 feet above sea-level. It has 
since been introduced to European collections by its 
‘discoverer, Mr. N. S. Pillans. The species has not yet 
flowered at Kew, and the material from which our plate 
has been prepared was obtained from a plant presented 
by Mr. Pillans to the Cambridge Botanic Garden in 1913 
which flowered there for the first time in J une, 1914, 
Mr. R. I. Lynch, to whom we are indebted for this 
material, informs us that the conditions suitable for other 
members of the genus meet the requirements of M. Pil- 
lansii, The nearest ally of M. Pillansii is M. lacerum, 
Haw., which it much resembles in foliage, but the very 
remarkable spathulate petals at once distinguish our 
Marog, 1917. et 2 
4 8 one 
