ground branches. Leaves 2 to each growth or 4 v/hen e new growth 

 is made, o^^tjosite, united at the base, erect, subterete or stout- 

 ly sem"' terete, flattened on the face, firm and smooth, not dotted. 

 Flower solitary, terminal, nedunculate and bracteste; calyr pro- 

 duced above its union with the ovary into a distinct tube, 6- 

 lobed above. Petals numerous, free, linear, arising from the 

 tor of the caljnc-tube. Stamens very numerous, arising from the 

 top of the calyx-tube and all abruptly bent dovm into the tube in 

 a ting, Stigma sessile, small, circular, entire. Ovary inferior, 

 lS-15 celled, slightly concave et the top; placentas on the outer 

 wall or floor of the cells. Capsule broad and shallow, flat at 

 the top, with lS-15 valves and cells; each valve with two brown, 

 expanding keels half as long as itself, having membranous merginal 

 wini5:s and ending in membranous points; cells roofed with rather 

 ridid cell-v/ings, and the outer opening nearly closed by a tubercle 

 —N.E. Brovv-n in Fiov/ering ^lents of S. Africa, vol. 2. t. 78 (l922). 



The only known species and type of the genus is ^. digitifolia, 

 N. E. br., a native of ^an Rhynsdorn division in South Africa. 



"^e genus Is named after ^""^rs. £. ^ood^ v;ho discovered this 

 plant, v'hic^ is well-figured in the v/ork quoted; a diagram of the 

 flower-structure in longitudinal section is here given slightly 

 enlarged (Fig. 158). 



R. digitifolia, N. E. Brovm. — Plant forming somewhat lax 

 clumps with underground branches 2-3 inches long v.'hen old. Leaves 

 opposite, one Pair to each growth (or under cultivation sometimes 

 ty.'o pairs), erect, 2-4>; inches long and 5-7 lines thick, half- 

 cylindric or subcyllndric , but flattened on the inner face, obtuse, 

 smooth glabrous, green or suffused with purnle at the tips. 

 Peduncle 1-2?; inches long, erect, with a pair of bracts near the 

 middle, glabrous. Calyx produced above the ovary into a tube 3-3-| 

 lines long, 6-lobes above, and slightly constricted under the 

 lobes, glabrous, green; lobes Z^-A. lines long and 2|-3-| lines 

 broad, ovate, subacute or obtuse, four of them with membranous 

 margins. Corolla about 1^ inch in diameter; petals in about 4 

 series, the outer about 7 lines long and § line broad, the others 

 gradually shorter, linear, obtuse or notched at the apex, bright 

 magenta. Stamens, stigma and ovary as described under the genus. 

 Cansule about 7 lines long in diameter vvhen dlosed rnd 12-3 lines 

 in diameter when expanded, shel^o^-, about 3 lines deep, very short- 

 ly and broadly obconic-convex beneath, flft, with 12-15 raised 

 double ridges' -I line high on the top, and with 12-15 valves and 

 cells, light brovm; valves narrov;, 3 lines long, pale brov/n in- 

 side; expanding-keels diverging from their base, half as long 

 as the valves," orange-brovm, v.dth a white membranous outer margin 

 or wing continued into a linear, blunt appendage nearly as long 

 as the valves that is o-^ten united to the appendage of the adjoin- 

 ing valve; c^lls radiating from a central boss 2-21 lines in 

 diameter, roofed with pale brown flexible cell-wings and the outer 

 opening nearly closed by a large, white tubercle. Seeds numerous 

 in each cell, about f line long, ovid, with a minute ni rle at the 

 narrow end, smooth, ligjit brovm, — N. S, Br. in Flowering Plants 

 of South Africa, vol. 2, t. 78 (l922). 



Van Rh3msdorp Division J Near ^an ^hynsdorp, ^s. E. Rood,^ 

 In the Annals of the Bolus ^erbarium, vol. HI, p. 165, ^^^rs. 

 li. Bolus has stated that Hoodie digitifolia is a synonym of 

 ^-esembryanthemum brevipes, Schlechter. I have not seen the latter 

 plant, but feel sure that ^ts. BqIus is mistaken and am inclined 



