412 MESEMBRYACEZ (Sond.) [Mesembryanthemum. 
the calyx. Capsule glaucous, with 5 valves. The figure of Dillanius, t. 201. f. 257. 
more resembles this species than the foregoing. 
§. 19. ACINACIFORMIA (Salm Dyck.) Stem suffruticose, robust, 
angular, decumbent. Leaves connate, triquetrous, acinaciform, thick, 
with smooth margins, Flowers solitary, large, reddish (or, as in MV, edule. 
yellow). Calyx 5-cleft, lobes unequal. Stigmas 6-10. Fruit fleshy, 
[M. aequilaterale, Haw. M. Rossi, Haw. M. virescens, Haw. M. glau- 
cescens, Haw. and M. abbreviatum, Haw. in new Holland.] (Sp. 97-98.) 
97, M, acinaciforme (Linn. Spec. 695); stem angular, procumbent ; 
leaves subglaucescent, acinaciform, compressed, carinal angle much dilated, 
cartilagineous, entire or subundulate-scabrous ; peduncle with 2 large 
bracts ; petals purple; stigmas 14. Dill. Hlth. f. 270-271. Andr. Rep. 
t. 508. M. laenigatum, Haw. Syn. 233. M.rubrocinctum, E. § Z.! 1999. 
Lindl. bot. Reg. t. 1732. M. subalatum, Haw. Syn. 235. 
Has. Sandy flats, near Cape Town, and Zwartkopsriver. July-Nov. (Herb. Sd.) 
Stem 2-4 feet, articulate, young branches much compressed. Leaves 2-3 inches 
long, 6-8 lines wide, subincurved, much compressed, the carinal angle mostly entire, 
or near the apex subscabrous. Flowers the largest in the genus. Peduncle com- 
pressed, 2-edged, about 2 inches long. Calyx lobes subequal. Petals in many rows, 
lanceolate. Fruit eatable, Hottentot-figs or T’gaukum. A small red line at the 
es is the only but variable difference between M. rubrocinctum and the true acina- 
‘orme. 
98. M. edule (Linn. Spec. 698) ; stem angular, expanded ; leaves 
subequally triquetrous, subincurved, carinal angle serrulated ; peduncle 
without bracts ; petals yellow or purple ; stigmas 8. Dill. Hlth. t. 272. 
Seb. thes. 1. t. 19. f. 6. M. acinaciforme, E. § Z.! 1997. Zeyher n. 2575. 
M. edule, Thunb.! et E. & Z.! 1998. Pappe. Flor. cap. med. p. 16. 
é a} Very common in the sandy tracts of the colony. July-Dec. (Herb. Thunb. 
‘Often confounded with the preceding, but very different. Leaves 3-4 inches long, 
3-6 lines wide, the carinal angle scarcely dilated. Peduncle 1 inch long, shorter 
than the uppermost leaves. Calyx turbinate. Flower large. The eatable fruit also 
called Hottentot-figs, Zuwre, or Paarde Vigen. 
§. 20. RUBRICAULIA, Salm Dyck, Haw. DC. ‘Stem suffruticose, 
branches erect, hardly decumbent, usually reddish. Leaves connate, tri- 
quetrous, rather acinaciform, serrulated at the angles. Flowers solitary, 
pedunculate, deep red (or, in M. serratum, yellow.) Calya 5-cleft. Stig- 
mas 5-8. (Sp. 99-102.) 
99. M. serratum (Linn. Spec. 696); stem erect, branched ; leaves op- 
sont cesrrgre bth a subulate, elongate, dotted, serrated at the 
angles or only at the keel ; flowers yellow, with purple lines, calyx lobes 
subulate, longer than the petals. Dill. Hlth. f. 138. nee 
Has. Cape of Good Hope, Dr. Pappe. (Herb. D.) 
One foot or higher ; stem reddish, terete. Leaves 3-4 inches long, flattish at the 
base, and about 3 lines wide, with prominent dots. Internodes 1.-2 inches long. 
Peduncle shorter than the uppermost leaves, without bracts. Calyx turbinate, lobes 
subequal, subulate-triquetrous, t and 14 inch long, Petals yellow, in the upper part 
with small purplish lines, about twice shorter than the calyx. 
‘ 
