Tas. 8783. 
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM EpULE. 
South Africa, 
FicomeaE. Tribe MESEMBRYANTHEMEAE. 
MEsEMBRYANTHEMUM, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 853. 
Mesembryanthemum (§ Acinaciformia) edule, Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 2, p. 695; 
Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 1, vol. ii. p. 190; Haw. Obs, Mesemb. p. 892; Brongn. 
in Ann. Sc. Nat. sér. 3, vol. xviii. p. 284, 250, t. 10, fig. 25-28; Harv. et 
Sond. Fl. Cap. vol. iii. p. 412; Bolus et Wolley-Dod in Trans. S. Afr. 
Phil. Soc. vol. xiv. p. 265; Berger, Mesemb. pp. 2038, 204, fig. 40, 1-5; 
Marloth, Pl. S. Afr. vol. i. p. 208, t. 50, fig. A, etiam in textu, fig. 92 ; 
N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron. 1885, vol. xxiv. pp. 145, 266; J. Hutchinson im 
Gard. Chron. 1917, vol. Ixii. p. 31; species a M,. acinaciforme, Linn., 
foliis subaequaliter triquetris oblongis nee obovato-oblongis, et floribus flavis 
vel senescentibus carneis nec violaceo-rubris statim distinguenda. 
Herba succulenta, valde ramosa, procumbens vel pendula, 0°5-1 m. longa, 
ramulis crasiusculis angulatis. Folia opposita, sessilia, oblonga, subobtusa, 
subaequaliter triquetra, subincurva, crasso-carnosa, viridia, 4-7 em. longa, 
circiter 1 em. lata. Flores terminales, solitarii, 7-8 cm. diametro, primum 
flavi demum carnei. Calycis tubus turbinatus, 2-2°5 cm. longus; lobi 
inaequales, ovati vel oblongi, subobtusi, 2-8 cm. longi. Petala patentia, 
numerosissima, lineari-oblonga, flava sed senescentia carnea. Stamina 
numerosissima, brevia ; antherae lineari-oblongae, flavae. Stigmata sub- 
sessilia, numerosa, reflexa. Fructus turbinatus, grandis, edulis.—M. 
acinaciforme, var. flavum, Linn. Sp. Plant. ed.il, p. 485, M. falcatum 
majus jlore amplo luteo, Dill. Hort. Eltham, p. 283, t. 212, fig. 272 (1782). 
M. sive Flos meridianus Africanus triangulari folio frutescens maximus 
procumbens fructu turbinato edule flore luteo, Breyn. Prodr. vol. ii. p. 67 
(1689). Chrysanthemum Aizooides Africanus triangulari folio flore aureo, 
Breyn. Exot. Pl. cent. i. p. 163 (1678).—R. A. RoLFE. 
No Mesembryanthemum to be met with in succulent col- 
lections is more handsome than the Jong known /. edule, 
figured here from material obtained by Mr. J. Hutchinson 
on the face of an old quarry at the entrance to Caerthillian 
Valley in Cornwall, where it is thoroughly naturalised in 
company with the Australian and Chilian species M. aequi- 
laterale, Haw. A native of South Africa, J. edule, 
in most parts of Britain, requires the protection of a 
greenhouse during winter. But in certain localities in 
Cornwall, South Devon and Jersey, it is now established 
OcropeR—DecemBER, 1918. 
