Neic and litile known Plants. 51 



tection of the leaves and stem against excessive transpiration. In 

 damp weather they open out slightlj'. Experiments to show 

 whether through them tlie plant can utilise the dew had negative 

 results. 



A7iacam2)seros (Avonia) Alsfonii, Schoul. n. sp. Caudex napiform, 

 2-4 cm. long, 2-3 cm. broad at the apex, almost tiat on the top ; 

 branches numerous, only from the upi er surface of the caudex, 

 up to 2 or 3 cm. long, nearly 2 mm. broad, leaves (and stipules) 

 in 5 orthosticha ; leaves closely imbricated, about 1 | mm. broad, 

 1 mm. high, convex on the back, rounded and sub-emarginate at 

 the apex, glabrous, smooth, green with a tinge of red, or intensely 

 red ; stipules scarious, scabrous on the margin, silvery white, closely 

 imbricated in the lower part of the branches, more laxly imbricated 

 towards the apex, deltoid, about 2 mm. long, about Ih mm. broad 

 at the base, apex blunt ; involucral scales 5-8, 10 mm. long, sub- 

 ovate, acuminate ; flowers single, terminal ; sepals broadly ovate, 

 boatshaped, ochraceous, nearly 1 cm. long ; petals broadly 

 obovate, white, about 15 mm. long; stamens numerous (GO or 

 more), filaments slender, white, 10-12 mm. long ; anthers oldong, 

 pollen yellow ; ovary globose, 2 mm. long and broad, style 

 slender, about 10 mm. long, stigma sub-globose, 3-parted, ovules 

 numerous, placentation central ; capsule about 7 mm. long, outer 

 coat splitting into 6 lobes from the bas: as far as the middle, 

 these lobes are again shortly bifid and become detached at their 

 bas3, the inner portion, consisting of 6 fibrous oblong lobes and 

 and a fil)re between each 2 lobes, remiins and allows the seeds 

 gradually to escape ; seeds minute, numerous, yellowish-brown, 

 subclaviform. 



Described from living specimens which were contributed 

 about 1 years ago by Mr. G. Alston, and collected by him at 

 Hondeklip Bay, Namaqualand. It flowers in Grahamstown in 

 Januarj'. 



.4. Alstonii is evidently closely allied to A. quinaria, E. Mey. — 

 This latter species has, however, a much divided caudex. broad 

 ovate stipules and purple flowers, which are only about three lines 

 long. 



In A. Ali^toniiy as in all other species of Anncampseros, the 

 flowers are very fugaceous. They open for a couple of hours 

 some sunny afternoon and never open again. ThoSii belonging to 

 one caudex may open all together or a few may open at a time. In 

 some instances, which were specially watched, no insect-fertilisatiuu 



