Some Neiu Species of Euphorbia from South Africa. 319 
Growing in stony ground of the karroo, near Prince Albert and Beau- 
fort West. Marloth No. 4397. 
This is nearly allied to E. anacantha Boissier, but easily distinguished 
by the persistent stalks of the inflorescences. 
JS. esculenta Marloth (Sect. Pseudomedusea Berger). 
(See figure in : Marloth, Das Kapland Jena, 1908, p. 247.) 
Planta succulenta, habitu E. Caput Medusce, sed cyathiis differens. 
Involucrum campanulatum lobis brevibus conniventibus, valde albo- 
fimbriatis ; glandulis minimis calliformibus brunneis verticaliter adpressis. 
The stem is obconical or club-shaped, buried in the ground, flat at the 
apex, 10-20 cm. in diam., bearing numerous thick branches arranged in a 
rosette of half a meter in diam., each branch being from 5-15 cm. long 
and 15-20 mm. thick. The flowers are aggregated at the ends of the 
branches, white, sweet-scented like violets. 
Klipplaat in the Eastern karroo, flowering in spring. Marloth 
No. 4162. 
This plant is very common in the karroo of Graaff Eeinet, Aberdeen, 
and Jansenville, and forms a very nutritious food for the stock in times of 
drought. Formerly it was also occasionally roasted in the ashes for 
human use. Owing to its resemblance to E. Caput Medusce, it has been 
often quoted under this name. The latter, however, is not edible, and 
possesses flowers of quite a different structure. 
