74 
NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
normal pair of long leaves in succession to a short pair, but short leaves 
were produced on branches bearing the hardened remains of long leaves. 
The thickened bases of the long leaves are united, and, being slightly 
compressed, have one diameter longer than the other. As the leaves 
decrease in size above and begin to dry, the bases on the short sides push 
slightly inwards so that a longitudinal channel or furrow is formed. This 
is the beginning of the angles on the “ shields ” that are so characteristic 
of the species. Later the edges of the long sides become rather rounded 
and curve inwards, reminding one of a somewhat flattened finger-nail. 
In another species (probably M. chrysoleucum, Schltr.) collected by Mr 
P. Ross Frames at Van Rhynsdorp (Nat. Bot. Gardens, No. no short 
leaves were produced, and the basal portion of the long leaves wrinkled 
longitudinally and equally all round, without forming 4 distinct angles, 
so that a beaded appearance is maintained. It is interesting to note that 
a herbarium-specimen which had been dipped in corrosive sublimate to 
be killed and had been dried and mounted for over two years showed 
within an uppermost “shield” a pair of green succulent short leaves with 
the earliest stages of a pair of long ones. 
Mesembrianthemum spongiosum, L. Bolus. “Plantae 14— 28 cm. altae, sive 
praesidio praeditae ad 90 cm. altae’’ (fide Pillans), ra m i s ad 35 cm. longis 
vel idtra, ad 1 cm. diam., nodis 1-5 cm. diam., plus minusve angulatis, 
cuticula polita luteo-brunnea, intus insigniter spongiosis, “spongia” 
albida, internodiis 2 — 5 cm. longis, vaginis foliorum delapsorum diu 
persistentibus, ramulis adscendentibus vel erectis, saepius 2 — 6-foliatis; 
folia fere erecta, duo paris inter se leviter inaequilonga, alterum subfalca- 
tum, supra plana, carina inconspicua, lateribus convexis, obtusa vel abrupte 
acuta, glabra albo-lepidota, sine vagina ad 11 cm. longa, ad 1-2 cm., 
saepius 9 mm., lata, 1 — 1-9 cm. diam.; flores 3-nati vel abortione 1 — 2- 
nati, speciosi, meridie expansi, ad 6 cm. diam., pedunculis robustis, 
5 — 5-5 cm., in fructu 7 — 10 cm., longis, prope medium bracteatis, bracteis 
1 — 3 cm. longis; receptaculum hemisphaericum, apice 1-5 cm. diam.; 
sepala 4, acuta, 1 — 1-2 cm. longa, 2 latissime membranaceo-marginata; 
petala numerosa, ut videtur anguste linearia, “vermilion, golden at base” 
(fide Pillans) ; stamina numerosa erecta subdiffusa, aurea; capsula 1 pallida, 
2 — 2-5 cm. diam., aqua expansa ad 4 cm. diam., valvis 20 — 22, lateraliter 
valde compressis, lateraliter visis basi subrotundis, apice deltoideis et 
late uncatis, carinis inferne contiguis crassis, superne divergentibus, 
1 The capsule is remarkably light and spongy. Its outer rim is the highest part. From there 
the valves slope gradually downwards to beyond half their length, when they begin to turn 
upwards and slightly backwards. This curve makes a constriction near the centre of the 
capsule. Each valve, viewed from above, appears to be split along its whole length as far as 
the constriction. The portion of the valve beyond the constriction is the “hook” on the back 
of the valve in the expanded capsule. 
