BOTANY. 
241 
16. Ficoide.e {Fig -Marigold Family). 
Mesembryanthemum, Linn. 
58. *M. cryptanthum, Hk. f. — This most singular native plant 
resembles when young a bright green succulent mass, changing to 
yellow as it gets old, and finally drying up, as the hot weather ap- 
proaches, in the months of November and December. It grows on 
the hottest parts, in the most barren, arid, rocky soil near to the sea, 
in the neighbourhood of Sandy Bay beach and Turk’s Cap Bay, and 
is to be met with generally on the Southern and Eastern outskirts 
of the Island. The young plants appear after the winter rains in 
June and July, and soon put forth their somewhat concealed white 
flowers. A single plant seldom spreads more than fifteen inches in 
diameter, and only reaches one or two inches in height. The plant 
is so very succulent that it will not support its own weight when 
held up from the ground, and water is seen to drop from it when 
simply carried in the hand without any pressure. Plate 2G. It is 
also figured and described in Hk. Icon. Plant. 1084. 
59. M. emarginatum, Linn.— Brilliant purple-flowered Mesem- 
bryanthemum, growing almost wild in some places on the high ex- 
posed land, where it attains to a small shrubby bush. When in 
blossom the plant presents one bright mass of purple, which for 
several miles distant is a most conspicuous object. — Hab. Cape of 
Good Hope. 
60. M. crystallinum, Linn. — The Ice plant grows wild, and is 
very common, though confined to the Northern side of the Island, 
about Ladder Hill, Half- tree Hollow, &c. C. Alt. 1'2 ; seeds freely.- — 
Hab. Greece, Cape of Good Hope, Canary Islands, &c. 
61. M. edule, Linn. — The Hottentot Fig grows wild, and is very 
common; towards the Eastern portion of Longwood Farm, it over- 
runs considerable tracts of land. M. Alt. T to 4. The fruit does 
not come to perfection as it does at the Cape of Good Hope. — Hab. 
Cape of Good Hope. 
62. M. cordifolium, Linn. — Quite a weed, bearing a small bright 
pink star-flower, grows wild, and is very common generally in the 
Island. M. — Hab. Cape of Good Hope. 
63. M. sp. P — Orange-flowered Mesembryanthemum, cultivated 
in gardens. Alt. 3'8. Bather rare. 
R 
