﻿Plate 1820. 



MESEMBBYANTHEMUM BABKLYI, A r . E. Brown. 



Ficoide^. Tribe Mesbmbkye^;. 



M. Barklyi, N. E. Br. {sp. nov.) ; glabra, robastissima ; caule cen- 

 trail erecto, apice florifero, basi verticillatim ramoso, ramis procurn- 

 bentibus, plus minus tetragonis; foliis sessilibus, maximis, ovnto- 

 lanceolatis acutis, earnosis, viridibus, minute papulosis; pedunculis 

 tenotome cymosis, bracteatis, bracteis ovatis acutis, folii- 

 formibus ; pedicellis brevibus, crassis ; calyce pyriformi, quinquifido, 

 lobis moequalibus ovatis acutis, tribus majoribus ; pc-talis pi m'si i m"s, 

 linearibus, roseis ; staminibus erectis, antheris luteis ; sty lis 5, 

 subulatis, erectis. 



Hab. Namaqualand, Sir Henry BarUy. 



Oaulis bipedalis, ramulis 3-4 ped. loDgis, 1-1£ poll, crassis. Folia 

 6-15 poll, longa, 4-6 poll. lata. P< Flores sub- 



bipollicares ; calycis lobi exteriores 1 poll, longi, f poll. lati. 



_ Tbis is the largest species of Mesembryanthemum that has yet been 

 discovered, and appears to have no very great similarity with any 

 other known species, but, of those described, it seems to ra 

 to if. crystallophanes, Eckl. According to Sir Henry Barkly, ' the 

 mam stem reaches a height of two feet, branching out into flower- 

 stalks at the top, whilst near its base a whorl of branches spring out, 

 running for a foot or two along the ground, and then sending up 

 upright flower- stalks.' Sir Henry Barkly also states that he 'mea- 

 sured the procumbent ligneous stem at a distance of over a yard from 

 the main stem, and found - in circumference. It is 



very light, and is used by the natives for fuel. The leaves are so 

 juicy that it not only furnishes the cattle with moisture in that dry 

 country, but is used by Europeans in travelling for the purpose of 

 washing, and even drinking, the water squeezed out being devoid of 

 taste.' The flowers only open at noon. — N". E. Brown. 



Fig. 1. Portion of calyx-tube, showing in fl. 2. Petals. 



3. Upper and (4) lower stamens. 5. Ovary and styles. Alt enlarged. 



