i | 
416 MESEMBRYACEE (Sond.) [Mesembryanthemum 
hooked at the apex, large, equal, much dotted, membranous at the margins, clasp- 
ing the punctate calyx. Petals the size of those of M. compresswm, reddish, with 
many purplish lines. 
113. M. patulum (Haw. Syn. 334); branches numerous, diffuse, pa- 
tent-reflexed ; leaves suberect, glaucous-green, linear, triquetrous, equal- 
sided, roughish with dots, recurved and mucronate at the apex ; pe- 
duncle with 2 bracts on the middle and 2 at the top ; petals lanceolate, 
attenuate at the base, erect, recurved. Salm Dyck, l.c.t. 15. H. § Z.! 
2009. M. gracile, EZ. & Z.! 2010. ex pte. M. incurvum, L. Mey. in Heb. 
Drege. 
Has. Stony places in distr. Stellenbosch and near Tablebay, Mar. (Herb. Sd.) 
By the spreading or subrecurved, slender branches, smaller leaves, and by the 
bracts, from which the pair in the middle of the peduncle is smaller than those at 
the top, itis easily known from M, gracile and bracteatum, Leaves 6-12 lines long, 
7-1 line wide. Flower somewhat smaller than in M. bracteatum. Petals 4 inch 
long, reddish, with darker lines. M. patulum, £. § Z.! 2008, with greyish, dotted- 
scabrous branches, many dotted subscabrous, short leaves, and very short peduncles 
with many approximate bracts, seems to be a distinct species, but the specimens are 
insufficient. 
" 114, M. radiatum (Haw. Obs. 232. Syn. 289) ; stem erect, branclies 
erectish, canescent, smooth ; leaves very glaucous, triquetrous, equal- 
sided, attenuated and hooked at the apex, prominently dotted or 
wrinkled ; peduncle with 2 bracts above the middle, and 2 atthe tdp ; 
petals spreading, lanceolate, attenuated at the base. EZ. & Z./ 2007. 
Herb. Un. itin, 520. M. scabrum, fol. 2. herb. Thunberg. “= ae 
Has. Stony places near Lionsmountain and Greenpoint, Jan.-Feb. (Herb. 
Thunb. Sd.) oe 
By the grey-bluish colour of the whole plant, it differs from the other species of 
this section ; from M. patulum especially it is distinguished by the equal not hete- 
rogeneous bracts. Stem 4-1} feet high, branches often crowded, 2-edged. Leaves 
6-8 lines long, 1 line wide. Bracts ovate with recurved apex, somewhat membran- 
ous at the base. Petals as in M. bracteatum. The figure 249 of Dillenius, cited 
by Haworth, is a very bad one. 
§ 23. VIRGATA, (Haw.) Stem suffrutescent, branches erect, virgate, 
2-edged. Leaves subconnate, distant, compressed-triquetrous, erect- 
recurved, punctate. Flowers pedunculate, peduncle with 2 bracts, soli- 
tary, reddish, small. Calys 5-cleft. Stigmas 5. (Sp. 115-117.) 
115. M. virgatum (Haw. Syn. 290) ; stem weak; branches twiggy ; 
- ‘leaves glaucescent, triquetrous, compressed, recurved at the mucronate 
apex ; flowers solitary ; peduncle with 2 bracts. Salm Dyck, l. c. fasc. 
2. t. 9. M. compressum, Haw. Obs. App. 416. 
an Cape of Good Hope. 
stem 2-3 feet ; branches rigid, straight. Leaves 6-9 lines long, 1 line wide ; 
carinal angle scarcely dilated. Peduncle 1 inch lo: , with 2 ciehate: cymbiform, 
3-4 lines long, bracts in the middle. Flowers small. Calyx obconical. Petals 
subuniseriate, about 4 lines long, 
116. M. congestum (Salm Dyck, 1. c. fase. 6. t. 8); stem and branches 
straight ; leaves glaucous, subacinaciformly-triquetrous, much compressed, 
uncinate at the apex ; flower solitary ; peduncle with 2 leafy bracts. 
M, heteropetalum, E. & Z.! 2003. non Haw, ; 
