184 SOUTH AFRICAN BOTANY 
in the order, having over 300 species in South Africa. 
The succulent leaves are opposite and decussate, and 
closely packed together ; the young leaves stand face to 
face at the apex and protect the young bud. The flowers 
are solitary or in dichasial cymes. The corolla is absent, 
but replaced by the numerous petaloid staminodes. 
The ovary is inferior, with from 5 to numerous cells, 
and axile placentae. The fruit, a capsule, only opens in 
moist air. 
Mesembryanthemum edule is the Hottentot Fig, the 
fruit of which is a succulent capsule and edible. Mesem- 
bryanthemum crystallinum, the ice-plant, has its leaves 
covered with small glistening hairs, hence its name. 
Mesembryanthemum obcordellum is a curious plant, 
the leaves being completely connate, forming a single 
flat body, and enclosing the flower bud. When ready 
to flower, the bud forces its way through a slit in the 
apex of this body, and opens above it, but the ovary 
remains within. 
Some species, e.g. Mesembryanthemum Hookerit, 
and Mesembryanthemum calcarewm, show protective 
mimicry, i.e. the leaves are coloured on the surface ex- 
actly like the soil on which they grow, so the plant is 
almost indistinguishable. Others have what is called 
“window leaves,’ i.e. the soft green portion of the 
leaves is underground, the apex only being above the 
soil; this exposed part is colourless, and protected by a 
thick epidermis or cuticle ; itserves as a window through 
which light reaches the green part below. 
Pollination.—The flowers are brightly coloured from 
pure white to deep red, purple, or yellow and are very 
