268 ture of M. cryptnntha . 



This genus differs from all others not only in its vegetative 

 character, but also hy the valves of the cepsule being distinctly 

 bifid, and the t' in, stiff keels on the valves are not hygrometric, 

 a character thai also occurs in '^onicosia. 



2. H. I^am^denii, N. E. Bj.. In «J'ourn. of Bot., 1928, p. 106, 

 Annuel, v/ith stou+ cylindric "stems creeping along the ground and 

 covering a good deal of space.'* Basal leaves opposite, united at 

 the base, apparently oblong, obtuv/e, flattish, but very thick and 

 pult^y; those on the flov/ering stemms alternate, the lov:er being 

 apparently more or less cylindric or clavate or ellipsoid, as thick 

 es bropd, very obtuse, papulose snc very pultiy or v.'atery, becoming 

 smaller, less pulpy, and bract-like tov^^ards the ends of the branches 

 glabrous, ^n^een. Flov/ers sessile, alternate along the branches, 

 Cal3'TC ^epr-shatied or obovoid, panulose, pulpy-glabrous, green, pro- 

 duced above its union with the ovary into a tube 1-| line long 

 subeoually 5-lobed above; lobes erect, 2-3 lines long and as much 

 in breadth, orbicular, rounded at thfe apex, some with thin or 

 membranous margins. Gorlla small and apparently about 4-5 lines in 

 diamete ; petals nunerous, not or scarcely exceeding the calyx- 

 lobes, about 5 lines long, filiform-linear, acute, united belov/ 

 into a tube 3-g--4 lines long, white. Stamens numerous, arising 

 from the corolla-tube, 2-2^ lines long; filejuents not bearded, 

 vrhite; anthers yellow. Stigma 5, erect, 2|-3 lines long,^ ex- 

 ceeding the stamens, flattish-subulate, acute, pallid. ^-'vary half- 

 superior, dome-shaped and minutely papulose on the top, pale green 

 5-celled, v/ith axile placentas. Fpuit not seen. 



;^^reat ^%maqualandi Near ^uderitz, ^smpden. 



^escribed from living material sent to the British i%seum by 

 the Rev. ^obart Hampden in February, 1928. 



Although it is nlant has neither beauty nor grace to recommend 

 it to notice, yet it is of very great interest to those who study 

 the distribution of animals and plants, teecause it affords ano-':her 

 link in the slight chain of evidence that exists showing some 

 connection between the mid-ocean island of St. Helena and South 

 Africa, for the only other known species of -^^ydrodea is a native 

 of St. Helena. Other exajriDles of this peculiar distribution are 

 found in the genera Pelargonium, ^Phylica and ^ripteris, of v^.ich 

 there is one species of each in S^ , Helene the remainder being 

 mostly South African. 



N. E. Brovm 

 (To be continued.) 



1502 ITesembryanthemiim. — Mr. N. E, Brown asks us to state that 

 "Phyllobus" (p. 253) should read Phyllobolus. 



I !ESEI,!BRYANTHEIv!UI'.I, 

 Gard. Chroti. III. 84: 313. 1928. 

 (Continued from page 268.) 



20.— PLATYTHYIL^, N. E. Bp. 



313 I'erennial, Rootstock a cluster of long, fleshy roots, 3-4 

 lines long. Stems herbaceous, prostrate, triangular or quad- 

 rangular, v.'ith distinct internodes, glabrous. Leaves opposite. 



