602 LXVII. FICOIDE2E (OLIVER). [Mollugo. 



equalling the capsule. " Stamens 3-4." Styles 3, shortly distinctly 

 exserted'. Stigmas capitellate. Seeds unappendaged, renilbrm, com- 

 pressed, with \ery minutely transversely notched longitudinal ridges. — 

 M. Schrankii, Ser. in DC. Prod. i. 391. Further synonymy, see 

 Fenzl, 1. c. 



Lower Guinea. Loanda, Angola, Dr Welwitsch/ 

 Also American, chiefly intertropical. 



7. M. fragilis, Wawr. et Peyr. Sert. Beng. 25. Diffuse or prostrate 

 (not erect as described by W. and P.), much-branched perennial or bi- 

 ennial wholly glabrous glaucous or pruinose herb, from a few inches to 

 1 ft. in height; branches filiform with internodes usually of J-l in. 

 Leaves pseudo-verticillate oblanceolate or oblong-spathulate, obtuse, 

 entire, averaging \-\ in. in length. Flowers in usually 3-4-flowered 

 pedunculate umbels from nearly every node; peduncle and pedicels 

 filiform, subequal, J-J in., involucel minute. Sepals obovate, broadly 

 white membrane-margined. Stamens 5. Stigmas 3-4, minute sub- 

 sessile. Seeds unappendaged, nearly quite smooth. 



Lower Guinea. Loanda and Ambriz, Congo, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



9. PHAENACEUM, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. 



i. 85?. 



Sepals 5, nearly equal, membranous-margined, persistent. Petals 0. 

 Stamens 5-10 (3— oo ), subhypogynous. Disk lobed or 0. Ovary free, 

 3-5-celled; stigmas as many as cells, short; ovules oo , axile. Cap- 

 sule membranous, 3-5-celled, loculicidally 3-5-valved ; seeds smooth, 

 shining or minutely granulate, unappendaged. — Annual or perennial 

 low herbs, often frutescent at base. Leaves alternate or pseudo-verti- 

 cillate, fleshy, terete (or various), stipulate ; stipules scarious, setaceous- 

 fimbriate or leaf- sheath with a subulate tooth on each side. Flowers 

 in pedunculate umbels (or variously cymose). 



Almost exclusively confined to the Cape of Good Hope. The following species is 

 nearly allied to P. acidum, Hook, f., of St. Helena. 



1. P. verrucosum, E. et Z. Enum. 286. Var. Low. herb, with 

 procumbent or prostrate woody branching stock, wholly glabrous; 

 annual or persisting two or more years. Leaves crowded at the extre- 

 mities, ascending, subterete, J— 1 in. long, T ^ in. diameter more or 

 less when dry, with a stipuliform tooth at each side of the sheathing 

 base. Flowers J in. diameter, more or less, in pedunculate umbels ; ♦ 

 peduncles usually naked, occasionally verrucose, 1 J— 3 in. long ; invo- 

 lucral bracts minute, ovate, membranous; pedicels slender, straight, 

 3-6 to each umbel, J-f in. long. Sepals broadly elliptical obtuse, 

 sometimes with the pedicels minutely verrucose. Stamens usually 7, 

 varying 1—5 or 7-9 (Dr. Welwitsch). — Hypertelis verrucosa, Fenzl, Monog. 

 Mollug. 262 (Extr.). 



Lower Guinea. Near Mossamedes, Benguela, Dr. Welwitsch! 



And at the Cape. 



