gynous scales ; and is more nearly allied to Holarrhena, 

 which differs in having its stamens arising from the bottom 

 of the corolla instead of the middle, regularly opposite 

 leaves, and whole habit. 



This plant offers an exception to the usual position of 

 the leaves in Apocyneae ; they are not opposite, as in the 

 order generally, but scattered irregularly over the surface 

 of the stem ; a circumstance which appears to be owing to 

 the unusually succulent and distended state of the stem. 



A native of barren, sandy plains, at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. If it is the Echites succulenta, it was found by 

 Mr. Burchell in the Kloof and its mountains ; but upon 

 this point there is some doubt. It agrees with neither the 

 figure nor description of Thunberg, in minor details ; but it 

 has so much general resemblance, that it is very probable 

 they are the same, — allowance being made for Thunberg's 

 loose mode of description. 



Our drawing was made at Mr. Tate's Nursery, in 



August 1828. 



Stem spherical at the base, tuberous, smooth ; branches 

 taper, succulent, divided, spiny. Spines proceeding from 

 below the leaves, 2- or 3-lobed, subulate, flat. Leaves 

 scattered, sessile, oblong, obtuse, fleshy, downy beneath. 

 Calyx inferior, 5-leaved ; leaflets ovate, acute, hairy, imbri- 

 cated. Co7"o//<2 hypocrateriform, hairy on the outside ; the 

 tube inflated in the middle, hairy inside below the stamens; 

 limb contorted ; segments equal-sided, oblong, obtuse, 

 slightly unguiculate ; throat naked. Stamens inserted in 

 the middle of the tube ; anthers sessile, sagittate, opening 

 lengthwise. Ovarium double, many-seeded. Styles 2. 

 Hypoifynous scales none. 



J. L. 



