116 1.— M. ^^ortenseae, N.E.Br. (Fig, 59).-- Grov/ths about 3-5, 

 crowded together into a clumD, ach 1-li inch high, 1-lf inch broad, 

 end 1-1 in oh thick, more or less compressed-subglobose or compress- 

 ed ovoid, sometimes slightly angular from mutual pressure, very 

 obtusely rounded at the apex, v/ith a somewhat obscure, slit-like 

 orifice belov: the apex, always on the side facing tov/ard s the 

 centre of the clump; substance very fleshy; surface smooth, velvety- 

 pubescent, vrlth very fine, adpressed hairs directed downwards, 

 whitish or greyish under natural conditions, often with a rosy tint 

 where exposed to strong sunlight, partly invested at the base vi'ith 

 the brov/n, withered skins of former growths. Flovv^ers solitary, 

 with the thickened top of the pedicel Just exserted from the burst 

 onening of the grov;th, which during flov/ering becomes v/ithered, 

 wrinkled and brown, ^eljx 6-lobed dov/n to its union v/ith the ovary, 

 2^3 lines long and about 2 lines broad, oblong, obtuse, membrenous 

 at the arica], pert. Corolla varying from 5-12 lines in diameter, 

 curi-shaned, opening about 10 a.m. and closing between 4 and 5 in 

 the afternoon, sv/eetly-scented; petals numerous, free, in several 

 series; the outer 4-6 lines long and -1-1 line broad, linear, obtuse 

 or obtusely r>ointed, the inner smaller and narrower, v/ith the inner- 

 most linear-filiform, (starainodes?) , somewhat stiff or brush-like 

 to the touch, nure white in some flowers, in others pink at the tips 

 or more or less tinered with very pale pink except at the hase. 

 Stamens 2-3 lines long; «=nthers^ yellow. Stigmas 6-7, erect, probab- 

 ly becoming erectly-spreading, t-l line long, stout, acute. Wary 

 partly superior, shallow, conical at the top, with the cell-part 

 immersed in the top of the stout-clavate pedicel, which is 3|--5 lines 

 thick at thet part end has the appearance of being a large inferior 

 ovarv, and is pale green. Capsule 3-3§ lines in diameter when 

 closed, and including the obconic under t^rt about 3 lines long, 

 psle broTvn; when expanded 6-7 lines in diameter and pallid within, 

 with yellowish- brown expanding-keels. Seeds about 1/3-line long, 

 ovoid, smooth, brown, with a darker brown nipple. 



?Jiversdale -division J In the Klein -^roo among quartz stones, 

 at 1,200 to 1,400 feet above sea-level, flov;ering in December, ^iuir, 

 3885. 



The cluster of somewhat egg-like bodies that constitute this 

 strpnge plant render it one of the most remarkable among flowering 

 plants, for it is auite unlike any other at present known. I 

 have not seen a nlant in flower, es the the plants sent to me failed 

 to Produce flowers this season, but have described the floral struc- 

 ture from flowers sent to me in formalin by ^r. ^"^ir, and from 

 information he has supplied. From which it would appear that the 

 root-system is superficial and apparently not penetrating deeper 

 tha" about 2 inches into the ground, and that in nature the grov/ths 

 ere burled in the ground for about half their height, the portion 

 underground being green, ^v, I'luir informs me that when the- plant 

 is preparing to flower, "Ahard spot is palpable in the fleshy 

 body and the covering enidermis gets thinner and paler. This hard 

 spot is sharply marked off from the surrounding softer substance. 

 "Hie flowers burst right through the fleshy body at the some pro- 

 minent part of the urper convexity, A fissured lesion or wound is 

 formed, longitudinal at ■f'irst (probably through the fissure), and 

 then irregularly branched as pressure is exerted by the advancing 

 flovrers. The edges of this fussure are raw at first and exude mois- 

 ture, lust like any other tear ot cut." 



My drawing i^is. 59) represents (at A), a plant with a cluster 

 of three growths, slightly reduced, made from a living plant. ^, 



