Mesembn/anthemum.] lxvii. fxcoide^e (oliver). 583 



cylindrical stem. Leaves conico-cylindrical, turgid, obtuse (digitiform), 

 smooth, reddish-brown, varying* to 2 in. in length. Flowers white, 

 solitary, nearly concealed between a pair of turgid ovoid concave obtuse 

 erect bracts. 



Lower Guinea. Mossamedes, Dr. Welwitsch I Described chiefly from Dr. Wel- 

 witsch 's notes. 



2. TBTEAGONIA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 854. 



Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary ; lobes 3-5. Petals 0. Stamens oo 

 (l-oo ) inserted in the calyx-tube. Ovary nearly wholly inferior, 2-8- 

 celled ; styles thick, densely papillose ; ovules solitary, pendulous. 

 Fruit a nut or drupaceous (horned or) winged, indehiscent. — Herbs or 

 low shrubs with alternate entire succulent exstipulate leaves. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary or few together, sessile or pedunculate, greenish- 

 yellow (or reddish) 



Most of the species are peculiar to the Cape Flora. One (T. exjpansa, Murr.) of the 

 Southern hemisphere and Japan is cultivated as spinach. 



1. T. reduplicata, Welw. mss. Snrubby, erect with ascending 

 early glabrous branches, 1 J- 2 J ft. high. Leaves alternate, succulent, 

 ovate, strongly reduplicate along the midrib, the apex when thus folded 

 more or less incurved or falcate, obtuse, glabrous or papillose, deep 

 green when fresh ; £-1 \ in. long, varying to nearly 1 in. broad when 

 forcibly flattened, rather abruptly narrowed into a petiole of \— \ in. 

 Flowers greenish in short axillary fascicles or few-flowered racemules 

 shorter than the leaf, about J in. broad. Calyx-lobes 4 (or 2), unequal, 

 obtuse, spreading, papillose. Stamens 12-20. Styles 3 or 2, slightly 

 exceeding the calyx. Fruit 4-3-winged, obovate or roundish in out- 

 line, J-f in. long and broad, dull, nerveless between the wings, 2-1- 

 celled by abortion {Dr. Welwitsch). 



Lower Guinea. Mossamedes, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch! 

 Allied to T. arbuscula, F. of the Cape. 



3. AIZOON, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 854. 



Calyx-tube short, limb 5-4-partite, segments imbricate (or valvate). 

 Petals 0. Stamens indefinite, about 12-60, sometimes inserted in oli- 

 gostemonous phalanges alternating with the calyx-lobes. Ovary free, 

 depressed, 5-4-celled; styles free; ovules 2-<x> (6-10) in each cell. 

 Capsule depressed, dehiscing loculicidally, the valves remaining afhxed 

 and incurved at the apex or free. — Herbs or suffrutescent, usually pa- 

 pillose-tomentose, the hairs often medio-fixed. Leaves alternate, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers axillary, solitary or in distichous spikes or con- 

 tracted cymes. 



A small genus of countries towards the Mediterranean, the Cape, and Australia. 



Diffuse or prostrate, dichotomous. Flowers sessile, solitary in the 

 forks or axils, or glomerate from contraction of internodes. 

 Valves of fruit inflexed, united to axis 1- A. canariense. 



