165 
Sonder in “~ Fl. Cap.,” Vol. II, p. 432, erroneously quotes AZ. fasciculatum, Thunb., as 
a synonym of M. tetragonum, but the two species are totally different, as | have noted 
under M. fasciculatum, Thunb. 
N.B.—As Moench, two years later, in his “ Methodus Plantas, Supplementum,” 
p. 191 (1802), also published a species under the name of M. tetragoman, which has been 
omitted by modern monographers, I would like to point out to future workers upon this 
genus, that it is probably a synonym of some ies described by Haworth. The 
description of M. tetragonum, Moench, is as follows :— 
Stem erect, shrubby, glabrous, smooth greyish; branches tetragonous. Leaves 
decussate, distinct (i.e. not united at the base), triquetrous, keeled, acute, not dotted. 
with the margins and keel reddish. Flowers solitary subsessile. Calyx 5-lobed ; lobes 
ovate, three with membranous tips. Corolla reddish, with subulate petals. 
M. tortuosum, Thunb., “ Fl. Cap.,” p. 427. 
Two sheets marked a and 2. Collected in the Karroo. 
Sheet a contains two specimens of JM. tortwoswm, Linn., which agree with those of 
Pearson No. 3057 (from the valley of Kamsoap). 
Sheet 7 contains four pieces of M. erpanswm, Linn. 
M. trichotomum, Thunb., ` Fl. Cap..” p. 419. 
One specimen, collected between the Olifants River and the Bokkeveld Mountains. 
the type of M. trichotomum, Thunb., in ` Nov. Act. Acad. Leop.-Car. Ephem.,” Vol. VITI, 
Append., p. 14 (1791). 
This dwarf shrubby species continuously branches in a trichotomous manner from 
the base, with internodes 5-12 lines long, greyish, not dotted with white. The ultimate 
branches are only 14-2 inches long, not 2-3 inches as stated by Sonder. Leaves opposite. 
2-5 lines long and TESE, about 1 line broad and 1 line thick, flat above, slightly keeled 
at the apical part on the back (obsoletely trigonous, er Thunberg), obtuse, firm, smooth 
(not papillate), green. Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile. Calyx 4-lobed ; lobes unequal. 
the larger pair leaf-like up to 3 lines (or perhaps more) long, and twice as long as the shorter 
pair, which are ovate, obtuse, membranous, keeled on the back. Corolla with the outer 
petals spreading, dark parple, the inner short, whitish. Styles 4, very short, erect. 
purple ; stigmas simple, spreading, yellow. 
The above is Thunberg’s description with particulars from the specimen included. 
The floral structure cannot be seen without damaging the specimen, as there are only 
two flowers upon it. I fail to match this species with any specimen at Kew, but Pearson 
No. 5549 is evidently allied to it, differing bv its foliage, white-dotted branches, and . 
pedicellate flowers. 
M. tripolium. Thunb., “ Fl. Cap.,” p. 417. 
One specimen from Upsala Botanic Garden, which is M. lancewm, Thunb... not 
M. tripolium, Linn. (See ander M. lanceum.) 
” 
M. truncatum, Thunb., “ Fl. Cap.,” p. 412. 
One shect, containing two specimens, collected among rocks in the Kamanassie Karroo 
in all probability, as he states that it flow ers in January and February, and he was in that 
region in January, 1774, But Thunberg also states that it erows in the Karroo below 
the Bokkeveld, and near Hex River. As he only collected in these localities in October 
and November, 1773 and 1774, the Kamanassie Karroo is the more probable locality for 
it, and I have no doubt he mistook other species of this group for M. truncatum, for many 
of them are very similar in appearance. This plant is—- 
Conophytum truncatum, N.l.Br., in the Gardeners’ Chronicle ” (1922), Vol. LXXT. 
p. 261, 
