— 
159 
M. nodiflorum, Thunb., ` Fl. Cap.,” p. 415. 
Three sheets of good specimens, all of which belong to M. nodiflorum, Linn. It is 
stated to grow near Olifants River. in the Karroo below the Bokkeveld, in Zwartland, 
and elsewhere. The specimens quite agree with Schlechter No. 11068, from Eenkokerboom. 
Sonder in `` Fl. Cap.,” Vol. LU, p. 452, places M. apetalum, Linn. f. and M. copticum., 
Linn. as synonyms of VW. nodiflorum (in which Berger follows Linn.), but they are both 
perfectly distinct from it and from each other, J/. copticum, Linn. being the same as diz09% 
hispanicum, Linn., and M. apetalum, Linn. f. is described above. 
M. ovatum, Thunb., ~ Fl. Cap..” p. 417. 
This name is represented in Thunberg’s Herbarium by one sheet containing two very 
distinct species. 
The right-hand specimen is identical with Zeyher No. 2624, from the valley and hills 
- of the Zwartkops River, in the Uitenhage Division, and is undoubtedly the plant intended 
by the name JW. ovatum, in Thunb., ~ Fl. Cap..” p. 417, for which Thunberg gives no 
locality. | 
The left-hand specimen is a branch of MW. lanceum, Thunb. 
But upon noticing the more erect slope of the letters and the different ink with which 
they appear: to have been written, that the specific name ``oratum ` was written at a 
different time from the name ~ Mesembryanthemum,” 1 consulted the original description 
at M. ovatum, Thunb., and found that he there describes a totally different plant. which 
's not represented by any specimen in his Herbarium, nor can | find any in the Kew 
Herbarium that corresponds to his description. From this | think it probable that his 
original specimen must have got lost or destroyed, and that at a later date, when compiling 
his ` Flora Capensis,” he mistook the ovate-leaved plant (like Zeyher No. 2624) for his 
“I. ovatum, and because he found it did not correspond with his original description, wrote 
a fresh one, made from the specimen he had before him, which is flowerless, and added 
such details of the flower as are given, and the statement that it is papulose, from his 
original description. Thus we have two very distinct species described by Thunberg 
under the name of M. ovatum at different dates. The plant originally described appears ~ 
to be a very small papillate annual, whilst that later described has long (prostrate 7) stems, 
and is glabrous and smooth or not conspicuously papillate. The following is a translation 
of the original description :— 
M. ovatum, Thunb., in `` Nov. Act. Acad. Leop.-Car. Ephem.,” Vol. VIII, Append., 
p. 8 (1791), not of any other book or author. 
Plant dwarf, diffuse. Root annual, fibrous. Stems several, radical, as long as a finger” 
nail or an inch long. somewhat erect, simple. terete. leafless or slightly leafy (probably 
with or without bracts) at the middle, papulose, covered with crystalline scales (can 
eloagated dried watery papillae be intended ?). Radical leaves several (or many). larger, 
stem-leaves fewer, fleshy, opposite. connate, the length of a finger-nail or an inch long, 
flat, obovate. tapering below, and again widened at the base, obtuse, entire, papulose 
above, papulose and covered with hyaline scales beneath, viscid, green or purple. Flowers 
terminal. solitary, white. Calyx fleshy, 5-partite, papulose, crystalline and. scaly ; lobes 
1 line long, with three a little longer, ovate, obtuse, concave, with a thin membranous 
margin. Petals numerous, inserted on the calyx and longer than it, linear, entire, white. 
Stamens very many, inserted at the base of the calyx and shorter than it ; filaments distinct, 
filiform, glabrous. white or purple; anthers ovate, didvmous, yellow. Nectary crowning 
the ovary. affixed ina wreath to the margin of the calyx, crenulate, green. | Ovary depressed, 
2-grooved. glabrous. Styles 5, erect, subulate, acute. Capsule fleshy, depressed-conical, 
5-valved, 5-celled. Seeds numerous. 
Thunberg states that this plant grows near the Cape, on sandhills, and that it. is 
common. I cannot, however, as above stated, find any plant in the Kew Herbarium that 
agrees with the above description. Can this plant be a form of M. crin/florum, Linn. f. ? 
