168 
Presentations to Gardens—Professor H. H. W. Pearson, South 
African College, Cape Town, who has just returned from an 
expedition to Namaqualand under the auspices of the Perey Sladen 
Trustees, has sent a temarkably interesting collection of living 
succulents to Kew from that region. e plants, which have 
reached Kew in consignments during this spring, have arrived in 
excellent condition and are now beginning to grow vigorously. e 
genus Mesembryanthemum is largely represented, and some of the 
specimens no doubt belong to undescribed species. Among the 
most interesting are those with only two fleshy leaves, allied to 
M. truncatellum, and one fine specimen belonging to this group 
measures 3 inches across, the two fleshy leaves being each about 
1 inch long by 2 inches broad. Other representatives of the genus 
belong to the shrubby group, one of these, which unfortunately died 
It is particularly unfortunate that the specimen of this 
giant Mesembryanthemum did not reach England alive. Another 
specimen received may possibly be the remarkable Mesembryanthe- 
mum Barklyi, N. E. Br. (Bot. Mag. t. 1820), the ‘ great ice-plant’ 
mentioned by Sir Henry Barkly in a letter to Sir Joseph Hooker 
in 1876 and which has never yet reached England alive in spite of 
several attempts at its introduction. : 
One Mesembryanthemum (No. 6209), whose old leaves are retained 
in a membranous condition, is of some economic importance, since a 
decoction of its leaves is said to be used as horse medicine and also, 
when fermented, as an intoxicating drink. 
_ Crassulas also are well represented, some shewing a habit of 
growth very similar to that of the two-leaved Mesembryanthemums. 
Among the species at present determinable may be mentioned 
Crassula Barkly?, in habit similar to C. pyramidalis. 
Good specimens of Anacampseros papyracea have also been 
received. 
Other plants of particular interest are several apparently new 
Stapelias, one or two species of Hoodia (?), and some striking 
specimens of a pyramidal succulent species of Euphorbia, in general 
appearance not unlike a small densely-packed plant of Brussels 
sprouts. A few peculiar species of Sarcocaulon, some Aloes and three 
plants of tuberous Pelargoniums, are also included in the collection. 
Professor Pearson writes that he collected the first batch of speci- 
mens on his journey from Van Rhyns Dorp to O’okiep, Namaqualand. 
Later consignments came from Bethany Drift, not far from Drége’s 
locality “ Verlepteraam,” and from Bushmanland. 
The collection received from Professor Pearson includes over 
100 specimens, the majority of which represent distinct species. 
Kew is very much indebted to Professor Pearson for this interest- 
ing collection, which is one of the finest living collections of South 
African succulents that have ever reached this country. 
