NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
Mesembrianthemum MacOwanii, L. Bolus (§ Tumidula). Diffuse ramosum, 
saepius 15 — 20 cm. altum, ramis decumbentibus elongatis, ca. 5 mm. 
diam., internodiis 2 — 3 cm. longis, ramulis adscendentibus, dense foliatis; 
folia subturgida, leviter obliqua, carinata, carina integra, acuta, supra 
plana, viridia, vel saepe saturate viridia, laevia, cum vagina tumida, ad 
5 mm. longa, 2 — 3-5 cm. longa, 4 mm. lata diametroque; flores saepe 
2-ternati, cymis saepe numerosis crebris, 5-meri, meridie expansi, ad 
2-2 cm. diam., pedunculis omnibus bracteatis, 1 — 2 cm. longis; calyx 
turbinatus, segmentis inter se subaequilongis, ovato-lanceolatis vel 
lanceolatis acutis, tribus late membranaceo-marginatis, 5 — 6 mm. longis; 
petala 1-seriata, sat densa, linearia, basin versus attenuata, obtusa rosea, 
inferne saturate roseo-vittata, 8 — 9 mm. longa, 1 — 1-5 mm. lata; stamina 
conico-collecta, apice 2 mm., basi 6 mm., diam., staminodiis apice re- 
curvatis circumdata, filamentis staminodiisque basin versus conspicue 
dilatatis, ciliatis vel barbatis, dense intertextis, inferne albis, 2 — 5 mm. 
longis, antheris pollineque pallide luteis; discus annularis crenulatus; 
ovarium supra planum, medio leviter convexum, obscure 5-lobatum, 
stigmatibus anguste subulatis, longe setaceoque acuminatis. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Cape Peninsula, in rocky 
places on the sides of Lion Mt. above Kamp’s Bay, alt. 800 ft., fl. Oct., 
P. MacOwan (Herb. Aust.-Afr., No. 1748); near Miller’s Point, fl. Aug., 
W. Bod, 1473. 
This species is common on the Cape Peninsula and is nearly always 
found near the sea or on slopes facing the sea. It occurs on the cliffs at 
Hermanus where I have seen the decumbent branches, one or two feet 
in length, spreading over a rock and the numerous flowers so dense as to 
almost hide the plant. The nearest ally is M. Caroli, L. Bolus, but the 
latter has larger leaves and flowers and is laxer in habit than M. MacOwanii, 
which has a denser inflorescence, a shorter leaf-sheath with the longi- 
tudinal junction-line scarcely marked, the darker stripe down the petal 
less conspicuous, dilated bases to the stamens and staminodes, and the 
ovary flat, or nearly so, above. 
M. approximatum, L. Bolus (§ Uncinata). Diffuse ramosum, glabrum, 
9 — 14 cm. altum, ramis saepius 9 — 14 cm. longis, ramulis floriferis 
1-5 — 3 cm. longis; folia triquetra, carina apicem versus obscure 1 — 3- 
denticulata, supra leviter concava, obtusa apiculata glauco-viridia, 
3 
B. H. 
