column. Stigmss 6, ascending or erect, filiform, shorter then the 

 stamens. Ovary inferior, shallov/, flat at the top, 6-celled; 

 placentas on the outer wall of the cells. Capsule shortly obconic 

 end rather shallow, compressed belovj and narrov/ly winged on each 

 side, six-valved, with the sutures between the valves on the top 

 slightly raised ans slightly gaping; valves SDreading or recurved 

 vrhen v^etted, deltoid and as broad as long; expanding-keels contiguous 

 at the base, then diverging, 



with broad, membranous, marginal v.dngs; cells flatly r .^of ed with 

 transparent, membranous, flexible cell-wings, v/ithout a tubercle at 

 the onailng. Sedds many in a cell, ovoid, pointed at one end, 

 smooth brovm. 



The only known species is a native of the Klein •''■aroo, in South ^ 

 Africa. 



The nejne is derived from the Greek, argeta, chalky, in allusion 

 to the v;hiti sh colour of the plant. -^-Ithough I have had it in cul- 

 tivation for two years it hrs not flovrered with me, so that I am 

 unable to give a prober diagram of its floral structure. 



A. retrensis N.E.Br, (^ig. 52), — Clumps 2-4 inches or perhaps 

 more in diameter, and i.-Xz inch high. Leaves as described under the 

 genus, ascending or diverging, mostly 3-6 but varying from 2-9 

 lines long, 2^-6 lines broad end 2§-4 lines thick, flat or slightly 

 convex on the face, v/hich is deltoid-ovate or triangular in out- 

 line, v;ith sharp edges and acute or obtuse at the apex; in side 

 view rounded at the apex, keeled on the back. Caljnc rather com- 

 pressed and acutely 2-edged, the tvro lateral lobes 2-2j lines long, 

 or T)ossibly longer v/hen alive, laterally compressed and acutely 

 keeled dov/n the back, the other four smaller and li--2 lines long, 

 keeled on the back and vdth narrow, membranous ms.rgins , smooth, and 

 of the same texture end colovir as the leaves. *^orolla about 9-12 

 lines in diameter; petals about 30, in 1-2 series, lax, 4-5 lines 

 long and l/-?-^ line broad, linear, obtuse at the at^ex, reddish acc- 

 ording to Dr. ^'luir, but appearing to be of a rich rosy colour in 

 the dried flowers seen. Stamens erect, 1^ line long; filaments 

 not bearded, surrounded by erect filiform staminodes, v;hich are 

 lonerer thp'^ the stamens and recurved at the tips. Stigmss 6, 

 erect, 1 line long, filiform, greenish (?). ^vary flat at the top. 

 Carsule as described under the genus, 2^ lines in diameter v;hen 

 closed, and about 4^ lines in diameter vAien expanded; valves cream- 

 coloured inside; expanding-keels dark orange-bravn; marginal wings 

 coloureless. Seeds about 1/3 line long, smooth, brov/n. 



River sdale Division* On hills in the i^lein ii^^roo, growing a- 

 mong v/hite stones, on Bokkaveld Shales at an altitude of 1200 feet 



Muir 3622 feet. 



Described from living plants and dried flowers supplied to 

 me by Dr. J. l.-uir, v/ho first discovered it, and who informs me that 

 this' neat, looking little plant grovvs among white quartz stones that 

 are blinding in the glare of the sun and conforms so closely in 

 general appearance to the stones it grows among that its presence 

 is not easily detected until the eye has analysed its surroundings 

 and discovered that plants as well as tones are present on the ground, 

 and v/hen that is once realised the person finds that he "has been 

 walking over and upon the plents at every step, and becomes aston- 

 ished at two things; firsfy, that he has not noticed the plents 

 at first, and secondly that he had noticed tham at ell. Under 

 cultivation ^ith me, "t^is plant has become much greener than when 



first received. 



