7G 
NOVI TATES AFRICANAE 
The combination of five sepals and eight stigmas is unusual in this group 
and accounts for the specific name, insolitum (“unusual”). 
Mesembrianthemum rheolens, L. Bolus. Humile, pallide glaucum, radice 
fibrosa, caule multo abbreviato, ramis confertis, saepius dense 4-foliatis, 
interdum ramulo bene evoluto, florifero ; folia subcymbiformia, duo paris 
nunc aequilonga nunc inaequilonga, supra plana, subtus inf erne convexa, 
superne obscure carinata, lateribus convexis vel altero fere piano, levia 
vel carina marginibusque minute asperula, integerrima, 2-3 — 3-5 cm. 
longa, 1 — 1-6 cm. lata diametroque; flores solitarii, vespertini, 3 cm. 
diam., pedunculo brevi, in bracteis, valde concavis, 8 mm. longis, fere 
incluso; receptaculum turbinatum, apice 1-2 cm. diam.; sepala 5, obtusa, 
apice subcucullata, ovato-oblonga vel oblonga, interiora vix membranaceo- 
marginata, inter se parum inaequilonga, 0-9 — 1-2 cm. longa, petalis fere 
aequilonga; petala 2-seriata, inter se fere aequilonga, lineari-spathulata 
obtusa, pallide roseodilacina, ad 1-2 cm. longa, ad 2 mm. lata; stamina 
suburceolato-collecta, apice 7 mm. diam., filamentis albis, ad 9 mm. 
longis, interioribus basi parce barbatis, antheris pallidis, polline aureo; 
discus annularis conspicuus crenulatus brunneus, 8 mm. diam. ; ovarium 
supra concavum, stigmatibus 12 — 14, gracilibus sublinearibus, apice 
capitellatis, 1-2 — 1-3 cm. longis; capsula (una tantum visa, ut videtur 
anni prioris) aqua expansa 2 cm. diam., valvis 12, utrinque membranaceo- 
alatis, alis superne carinis adnatis, apice vero liberis, loculi alis ultra 
dimidium loculi tegentibus, tuberculo nullo, seminibus parieti exteriore 
dispositis, fere orbicularibus, leviter lateraliter compressis, levibus. 
Cape Province: Western Region; Little Namaqualand, karroid hills 
above south bank of the Orange River, between Dun Vley and Groot 
Doom, Oct. 1926, N. S. Pillans, 5644. 
Described from a living specimen which flowered in Mr Pillans’ garden 
at the end of November. Only one flower was produced; and there was 
a single capsule almost in perfect condition, but old and apparently the 
previous year’s growth. Very closely allied to M. montisdraconis , Dinter, 
from which it differs in having the leaves entirely without teeth and the 
stigmas well over-topping the stamens. The flower began to expand about 
5 p.m., and to close at 10 p.m., or one night at 11.30 it was still wide open. 
The whole plant smells like freshly-cut rhubarb {Rheum) and on this 
account has been named rheolens (“smelling of rhubarb”). 
Mesembrianthemum Giffenii, L. Bolus (“Annals Bolus Herb.” iv, p. 12), var. 
intertextum, L. Bolus. Diffuse ramosum, ramis multis, saepe elongatis, 
flexuosis intertextis, ad 3 mm. diam., internodiis saepius 2 — 2-5 cm. 
longis ; folia adscendentia vel patentia, supra plana, carinata, altero latere 
plus minusve piano, altero convexo, obtusa, basi connata, vagina 1 — 1-5 
mm. longa, papillosa, papillis magnis sed tamen baud elevatis, 0-5 — 1-2 
