Some New South African Succulents. 
407 
Mesembeianthemum digitifokme, Thunb. 
Planta subacaulis, radice lignosa, foliis oppositis, ingequalibus, basi in 
corpusculo cylindrico connatis, apicem versus liberis, valde cylindricis, 
rotundatis. Flores sublaterales, sessiles, solitarii, parvi, albi, ovario 
incluso. 
A number of stout branches arise from a common, stout, woody root, 
forming a lump as big as a fist or a small head. Each branch consists 
only of one pair of leaves, which form a fleshy corpusculum, somewhat 
like those of the section SphcEfoidea, but of a different structure. The 
greater portion of this body is formed by one leaf, which sheathes round the 
smaller one, thus forming a cylindrical fleshy mass, 1 to inches in length 
and f inch in diam., which is terminated by the ends of the two leaves ; 
the free end of the smaller one is |- inch long, the other one 1 inch long 
and ^ to f inch in diam., the apex of both being rounded. The flower 
appears at the junction of the two leaves, the ovary remaining enclosed, 
the petals being very stiff, white, lasting two weeks or longer. Diam. of 
flower 8 to 10 mm. 
The corpusculum is surrounded by numerous sheaths, the remains of 
former generations of leaves, the youngest generally reaching as far as 
the junction of the leaves. The leaves are soft and juicy, bright green, 
with a thin skin. Owing to the large amount of watery sap contained in 
the leaves they are readily eaten by the stock in times of drought, other- 
wise not touched owing to their saline taste. (Fig. 3.) 
Found on a stony plain near Van Ehynsdorp by Mr. W. Spilhaus. 
Flowering in my garden at Capetown in December, 1906. Marloth, 
No. 4677. 
Mesembeianthemum cineeeum, n. spec. (Sect. Suhquadrifolia.) 
Planta acaulis. Folia 4-6, dense aggregata, hemisphaerice-triquetra, 
superne plana, apice obtusissima, papillis erectis, piliformibus, brevissimis 
dense obtecta et cinerea. Flores solitarii, inter folia superiora sessiles ; 
sepala 5, valde inaequalia, tria carnosa foliis similia, duo minora mem- 
branacea ; petala linearia, rigida, uni-seriata, recurva, alba, nitida. 
Stamina alba antheris flavis. Capsula subsessilis. 
Stemless or nearly so, often several short branches from a woody 
root, forming a compact lump, 5 to 20 cm. in diam. The leaves are very 
closely pressed against each other, flat above, thicker than broad when 
young, but of the shape of half a chestnut when fully grown, with a blunt 
carinal angle. The surface of the leaves is grey or whitish, owing to its 
being densely covered with short and minute papillae of a similar structure 
as found in several species of Grassida. 
