_ has been found impracticable to prepare an analytical table of the species. It is hoped, - 
_ however, that the subjoined Synoptical Table, and key to the arrangement, of the 
sections, 65 in number, under which the species are distributed, will greatly assist 
Mesembryanthemum.| MESEMBRYACE (Sond.) 387 
TABLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GENERA. 
* Petals very numerous, linear. 
J, Mesembryanthemum. 
** Petals none. 
+ Stamens indefinite, numerous. 
1l. Tetragonia.—Calyx 4, rarely 3-cleft. Fruit inferior, angular, indehiscent. 460 
Seeds solitary. 
TIT, Aizoon.—Calyx s-cleft. Stigmas 5, thick. Capsule superior, §-celled, many- G65 
seeded. . 
TV. Acrosanthes.—Calyx s-cleft. Stigmas 2, filiform. Capsule superior, one- 
celled, 1-2 seeded. 47/ 
V. Diplochonium.—Calysx 5-cleft. Stigmas 2, filiform. Capsule superior, 2-celled, 
many seeded. 473 
++ Stamens definite, 5, 8 or rarely 10. 
VI. Galenia.—Stamens 8-10, in pairs alternating with the calyx-lobes. Styles 2-5. 
Capsule 2-8 (or by abortion 1) celled, loculicidal. 473 
- VIL. Plinthus.— Stamens 5, alternate with the calyx-lobes. Style 3-partite. Cap- 
VIII. Trianthema,—Stamens s—10, rarely more, Stigmata 2 or 1. Capsule 2-celled, 
cireumscissile. 
sule 3-celled, 3 valved, loculicidal. 475 = 
Ap puaslicg Soe 
* |. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. L. 
Calyx 5, rarely 2-8 parted, its tube adnate with the ovary, lobes 
unequal, usually leaf-like. Petals very numerous, linear, in one, or 
frequently in many rows, united at the base. Stamens innumerable, 
in many rows united at base. Ovary 4-20, but usually 5-celled. Stag- 
mas 4-20, usually 5. Capsule 5, many-celled, dehiscing in a starlike 
manner at the summit, Seeds innumerable. DC. lc. p. 415. Endl. 
Gen, 5163. ; 
Shrubs or herbs, almost all natives of the Cape of Good Hope, abounding through- 
out the arid plains and sands of the whole country to the south of the Orange Ri- 
ver and west of the Great Fish River. To the east of the Fish River the species are 
few. Outlying species occur in the Isle of Bourbon, in North Africa, on the Medi- 
terranean coasts of Europe and on the coasts of Australia, Chili and Peru. Leaves 
usually opposite, thick, fleshy, — terete or flat. Flowers mostly termina- 
ting the satis, white, red or yellow, the greater part opening in the heat of the 
sun, very few in the evening. The capsules are tigh sed in dry weather and 
open naturally after rain. thrown into water until thoroughly soaked 
and then removed, an old capsule will open out its cap valves, radiating from 
a centre like a star; and will close them again when dry. This experiment may be 
repeated several times without destroying their remarkable hygrometric property. 
Name from peonuBpea, mid-day, and avBenoy, a flower. 
GS For Synoptical Table of Sections, see next page. 
+ Owing to the number of imperfectly known species in this most difficult genus, it 
the student. I am indebted to the late Prince Salm Dyck for the use of his m 
script characters of the sections, of which I have largely availed myself: the w 
of the species however have been personally worked out, so far as the ma 
my disposal permitted.—W. S. Per 
