92 base, end the inner densely bearded there. Stigmas 5, ascending- 

 spreading, subulate, somewhat plumose. Ovary inferior, shallow, 

 slightly elevated at the central nart on the tor, and v/ith the 

 itRrgin (disk) also raised, 5-celled, v/ith the placentas on the 

 floor of the shallov,- cells. Capsule small, shortly obconical, 

 flat on the top, with the stures slightly raised and gaping, with 



5 valves pnd ce'ils; valves deltoid, reflexed when expanded; expan- 

 ding-keels as long as the valves, contiguous into a central keel 

 throughout, with broad membranous marginal wings that, are not 

 united in pairs betveen the valves; ce"' Is open, without, cell-^ings 

 or tubercles,. Seeds numerous in each cell, globose-ovoid, slightly 

 compressed, with a nipple at one end, smooth, 



Snecies 2, R. Muiri being the type of the genus; native ef 

 Karoo region of South Africa. 



The name is derived from the *^reek, rhine, a file and phyllon, 

 a leaf, in allusion to the rough surface of the leaves. 



Tn habit this genus s^mev/hat resembles that ot Titanopsis, 

 Schwant., and Fsammophora Schv;ant., but the structure of the flower 

 and fruit is quite different, and more closely related to that of 

 Delosperraa, N.S.Br., from which it differs in habit, in flowering 

 at night, in its firm and rough (not soft and papulose) leaves, 

 absence of staminodes and shallower cells of the ovary. 



My diagram of the floral structure (^'ig. 39) is made partly 

 from a living flower of R. Muiri that never fully expanded, and 

 partlv -from dried flowers sent to me with the living plants by 

 Dr. I-^uir. 



1. R. I^iiri, N.E.Br. (Fi^, 39).— Plant varying from S-^ 

 inch in height. Rootstock stout, fleshy, producing several tufts 

 of leaves at the top, forming a small clump. Leaves ascending or 

 ascending-snresding, 5-14 lines long, 2-5 lines broad and l§-3 

 lines thick et the apical part, tapering downwards to a much smaller 

 base, tri^^nously clavate, obtuse or bluntly poiijted, flat on the 

 face, V7ith sharp edges, very rounded and scarcely keeled on the 

 back on South African plants, becoming slightly keeled (especially 

 at the apex) under cultivation; surface glabrous, smooth on the 

 lower half and the unrer half covered vd th very small and slightly 

 raised, hard, white pimnles, and the edges sharply defined by a 

 continuous, hard or cartilpffinous line, the ground colour of the 

 lesf being green or pumlish. Pedicel terminal, bractless, about 



6 lines long, about 1 line thick, glabrous, ^^alyx glabrous, dull 

 green, tinged v/ith purple, basal nart somewhat hemispheric, but 

 nerrov;ing into the pedicel end about 4 lines in diameter; lobes 3- 

 3^ lines long, l-i-2 lines 



93 broad at the base, thence gradually tapering to an obtuse and 

 slightly hooded ariex. Corolla about 8-9 lines in diameter (but 

 not seen full3'' open), expanding (according to i^r. i^mir) after 6 

 p.m., and seen to be open until 1.15 a.m., but closed viien Inspected 

 at 3.30 a.m., during the same night, closed during the day, frag- 

 rant; petals about 35, in one series, 2^-3 lines long and |-- line 

 long, linear, obtuse, pale lemon yellow or v/hite. Stamens numerous, 

 erect from an incurved base, about 2^ lines long, the filaments of 

 the inner series densely bearded at the base, white, anthers pale 

 yellow. 3isk apparently entire, but could not be properly examined 

 without destruction of the only living flower seen, yel^ o\^'ish -green 

 at the margin. Stigmas 5, ascending, shorter than the stamens and 

 about 1^ line long, subulate and somewhat plumose, yellovdsh-^reen. 

 Top of the ovary green. Capsule, when closed, 2j lines in diameter, 



