85 search of generic characters) I had not seen specimens or had 

 insufficient material for examination and so left for further 

 study as material became available. But with reference to several 

 of the genera nroriosed, I feel doubtful if ^-r. ^chwantes has ex- 

 amined and dissected many of the species he enumerates under the 

 fl^enere he has founded, for some of the species mentioned I recog- 

 nise as belonging to genera I have already characterised and others 

 I think are doubtfu''ly separable from Mesdmbryanthemum . Unfortun- 

 ately the type species upon which he founds each genus is not men- 

 tioned, but I horte ^-r . ^chvantes will clearly point out v/hich 

 species is the t'';pe of each of his genera so that future confusion 

 may be avoided. 



i\. JL. thrown 



(To be continued.) 



IffiSmiBRYAKTHSMUM. 

 Gard. Chron. HI. 81^ 116. 1927. 

 C^ontinued from page 85.) 



2A.— MUIHIA, N. E. Br. 



116 Stemless, v.dth short, fibrous roots. Grcr/';ths more or less 

 comnressed-subglobose or compressed-ovoid and sometimes slightly 

 angular from mutual pressure, v;ith en obscure, short, slit-like 

 orifice below the sper. on the side turned towards the centre of 

 the clump, very fleshy, velvety-nuberulous with adpressed, fine heirs, 

 Slower solitary, Just exserted from the top of the grov/th, with the 

 clavate pedicel included; bractless. Calyx 6-lobed down to its 

 union with the ovary; lobes oblong, flettish, with membranous tips, 

 Petals numerous, free, in several series, linear, the inner very 

 narrow and filiform-linear (staminodes?) . Stamens numerous, con- 

 ni vent-erect ; filaments hot hairy at the base, '-'lands around the 

 tor> of the ovary 6-7, broad and nearly contiguous. Stigmas 6-7, 

 short and stout, erect, or possibly finally spreading. Ovary 

 externally arjnearing inferior and very large and pear-shaped, but 

 in reality nartly superior end very shallow, being partly immersed 

 in the very stout elevate toD of the pedicel, 6-7-celled; placentas 

 on the floor of the cells. Capsule shallov;, convex on the top, 

 v:ith the sutures betv/een the valves raised into ridges, and with 

 6-7 valves and cells; valves deltoid, when expanded horizontally 

 SDreadi'ns; expanding-keels closely contiguous so as to forma stout 

 centrel keel, with broad, membranous, marginal wings as long as 

 the valves; cells open, without cell-v/ings or a tubercle. Seeds 

 many in a cell; ovoid, slightly compressed, with a nipple at one 

 end, smooth, brown. 



Only one species (I«i. ^ortenseae, N.E.Br,, the type of this 

 strange genus) is at present known; a native of the Little Keroo 

 in South Africa. 



I have very greet pleasure in naming this remarkabe genus in 

 honour of my friend Dp. J. ^4iir, and the species after his daughter 

 Hortense, in recognition of the very great assistance ^t. ^^uir has 

 rendered by sending living Dlants to me, with valuable information 

 concerning them, viith which has enabled and will still aid me to 

 give a much better account of many of these genera than would 

 outhervrise have been possible. 



Generically, I/fuiria is more nearly allied to Oophytum than to 

 any other erenus, and I r^lace it next after that genus. 



