89 petals very n\imerous (over 150), in 4-5-series, spreading^ in 

 different planes, the outer recurved, 9-13 lines long, J-* line 

 broad, linear, acute or obtuse, entirely bright yellow or with 

 the basal part v/hite on the inner surface, whitish or pale pink- 

 ish on the beck, scarcely shining. Stamens very numerous; 

 fialaments white; anthers orange-yellow. Stigmas 10-12, as long 

 as or longer than the stamens, filiform, yellov;, at first erect 

 and closely placed in a bundle, afterwards separating, spreading 

 and more or less curled at the tijps. 



Mesembryanthemura simulans, ^^arloth in Frans. 3. Afr. J?hil. 

 Soc, 1907, V. XVIII, p. 43, t. 5, f. 7, and Fi. of S. afr. v. I, 

 p. 206, f. 94; Bgrger, ^esemb. t). 278, f. 62; N. E.^ Br. in The 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, 1921, v. LXX, p. 223, f. 94; ^eitschr. f. 

 Sukkul. V. II, p. 156, with fig. 



Aberdeen division: Near Aberdeen Road, '^^rloth, Frith. 



The Above two species, when grovvdng under natural conditions, 

 are said to closely simulate the stones they grow among, so that 

 when out of flower may easily be overlooked at a little distance 

 away from the, but when in bloom their large, bright yellow flow- 

 ers would render them very conspicuous. Yet, in spite of this sim- 

 ulation of their surroundings, I am informed by Dr. ^''-erloth and 

 others that these plants are searched for and eaten by goats and 

 other animals, and in some t>arts are becoming gradually exterminated 

 by them. 



The flowers of both species expand very regularly between 5,30 and 

 4 p.m., end close between 6 end 6.30 p»m. , at the end of August 

 or beginning of September, or sometimes later in the year, accord- 

 ing to the nature of the summer and the v/atering they have receiv- 

 ed. Their flowers expand independently of sunshine, as I find 

 that they will open in dull, sunless v/eather if the temperature is 

 sufficient and not much below 70° Fahr. "^ey are strongly and 

 pleasantly scented with an odour that reminds one of that of the 

 fluid in a Gocoenut. And., like the flowers of other genero of 

 this groups of plants, they enlarge considerably while maturing 

 their stamens and stigmas, the final diameter of the flower being 

 usually about an inch larger then that of its first day of open- 

 ing, J-Kiring the first 4 or 5 days the stigmas remain closed to- 

 gether in column, but elongate during this period; meanwhile the 

 anthers shed their pollen, and then the stigmas separate and be- 

 come receptive, 



N, E . Brown 

 (To be continued.) 



MESmiBRYAKTHEL'HJM, 

 Gard. Chron. HI. 80^ 149, 1926. 

 (Continued, from page 89.) 



10,— DIDYilAOTUS^ N. E. Br, 



49 Succulent stemless perennial, very dv/arf, Leaves opposite, 

 2 or when making a new growth 4 to each plant, those of each pair 

 eoual in size, hort, broad and very thick, ovate, not dotted, 

 Flov;ers lateral, one on each side of the plant from the axils of 

 the old leaves, bracteate. Calyx- 6-lobed dovra to its union with 

 the ovpr:"-. Petals numerous, in about 3 series, free, linear. 

 Stamens numerous, erect, not collected. Stigmas 6, subulate, 

 acute, lacerate or plumose on the inner surface, erect; style 



