259 Laing-slDurg Division^ Near I'fet jesf ODtein, Austin, I^rince 



Albert Division? Karoo, I"'rs. ^. van e'er Biji, 69. near Kiaers- 

 trrom, I'^rs. D. van der Siji, V/ii lovmore Division? near V/iHov/more, 

 Pole Svans, I-iller, I'fe.rloth. 



N. E. Brown 

 (To be continued. ) 



ME3EI/!BRyANTHSI'.iUM. 

 Gard. Chron. HI. 89? 279. 1931. 

 (Continued from page 259.* 



KEIADIA N. E. Br. 



279 "Very dwarf, perennial Succulents, tufted, v^^ith niimerous very 

 short branches arising from a fleshy rootstock. Leaves opposite, 

 united at the base, crowded, semiterete below, trigonous at the 

 tips, smooth, pellucid-dotted. Flowers solitary, pedicellate. 

 Cal^nc 5-lobed; inner lobes with membranous margins. Corolla with 

 numerous free petals. Staminodes numerous in 3 or 4 series, fili- 

 form, recurv^'ng. Stamens numerous, the outer spreading and often 

 v/ith white, barren anthers. Stigmas 6-10, subulate or filifirm, 

 acute,. Ovary inferior, vdth 6-10 cells; placentas on the outer 

 v/all of the cells. Capsule shortly and broadly obconic, convex 

 and with 6-10 raised and gating sutural ridges on the top; valves 

 with (alv/ays*?) a central acute keel; expanding-keels about half as 

 long as the valves, diverging from the base and without v/ings or 

 awns; cells somewhat acutely roofed with stiffish cell-wings, and 

 with or without small pl.acental tubercles. Seeds slightly compres- 

 S'^d-Pear-shaped, minutely or microscopically tuberculate. 



Species about three or four, all natives of the Tpanseel region. 



The name is given because the root is stated to be used by 

 natives for making a drink called "Khadi." I regret that no materi- 

 ial i? available for illustrating this genus. 



Key to the Species. 



Stigmas, and valves and cells of the fruit 8-10. 



Leaves in side view somewhat abruptly tapering into the 

 point from a little belovr the apex; pedicels 2^.-4 lines 

 long; calyx-lobes 3-5 lines long, broadly ovate; stigmas 

 erect; cells of ruit without placental tubercles; seeds 

 9-17 in a cells, ^-line long. 1. acutipetela. 



Leaves in sidev viev/ abruptly rounded into the point; 

 pedicels 9 I'^.nes long; the longer celyx-lobes 5-6 lines 

 long, leaflifce; stigmas escendnn^^ or erect; fruit un- 

 knov/n. 4. Nationae. 



Stigraas, pnd valves and cells of the fruit 6; pedicels 

 2-4 lines long; the two longer calyx-lobes 5-7 lines 

 long, acute or leef-like. 



Leaves inside view somewhat abruptly tapering to the 



point from a little belo'.'f the apex; stlgrn/^s erect or as- 

 cending, with recurred tips; cells of fruit with a small 

 placental tubercle; seeds about 5 or 6 in a cell, i line 



