90 
NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
1-5 cm. cliam., pedunculo brevissime pubescente, 7 mm. longo, persistente 
induratoque ad 1-5 cm. longo; receptaculum turbinatum; sepala 5, inter 
se inaequalia, oblonga obtusa, 3 — 5 mm. longa, omnia plus minusve 
anguste membranaceo-marginata ; petala purpureo-rosea, ad 7 mm. longa, 
ca. -75 mm. lata; (stamina non bene visa) ; discus conspicuus annularis, pro- 
funde multisectus ; stigmata 5, gracillima, setaceo-acuminata, 3 mm. longa. 
Bolus Herbarium, No. 18550. 
The origin of this very distinct species is uncertain, but it is most 
probably one of a number of plants collected in a resting state by Dr 
H. H. W. Pearson on one of the Percy Sladen Memorial Expeditions and 
given to Mr N. S. Pillans to grow. A specimen, in full leaf only, was 
received from the latter’s garden in April 1911; and in May 1913, when 
the plants in Mr Pillans’ garden flowered freely, specimens were dried. 
Unfortunately, no notes were taken at the time, and the above description 
is, therefore, almost entirely from the dried material. The specific name 
refers to the distant nodes, a character (together with the small leaves) 
which gives the plant a bare appearance. 
Mesembrianthemum pauciflorum, L. Bolus. Fruticulus sublaxus, ad 30 cm. 
altus, ramis decumbentibus, patentibus, vel adscendentibus, floriferis 
erectis, ad 3 mm. diam., internodiis 1 — 3 cm. longis; folia basi fere 
distincta, fere erecta vel tandem adscendent-ia, saepe subfalcato-incurva, 
carinata, supra plana, lateribus planis vel levissime convexis, supra 
medium parum ampliata, acuta levia subglauco-viridia, ad 1-8 cm. longa, 
ad 2 mm. lata, ad 3 mm. diam. ; flores solitarii, meridie expansi, ad 4 cm. 
diam., pedunculis 2 — 4 cm. longis, medio vel parum supra medium 
bracteatis; receptaculum clavato-turbinatum, inconspicue tuberculatum; 
sepala 5, inter se inaequilonga, acute acuminata, 4 — 7 mm. longa, 3 mem- 
branaceo-marginata, membrana ampla rubro-brunnea; petala ca. 
5-seriata, saturate rosea, intima angustissima, staminibus parum longiora, 
intermedia gradatim longiora, exteriora acuta vel obtusa, ad 1-8 cm. 
longa, 1 mm. lata vel parum ultra; stamina erecta collecta, tandem 
sublaxa, 5 mm. diam., staminodiis paucis filiformibus circumdata, fila- 
mentis albidis, ad 4 mm. longis, interioribus barbatis, antheris pollineque 
luteis; discus inconspicuus annularis; ovarium convexum 5-lobum, 
stigmatibus subulatis setaceo-acuminatis, 4 mm. longis. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Knysna Div., on rocky ledges 
and stony screes of cliffs, Noetzie, fruiting Feb. 1925, John Phillips 
(Bolus Herbarium, No. 18552). 
Described from living specimens (cuttings of the above) which flowered 
in Miss Arbuthnot’s garden, Wynberg, during September and October 
1926. In the paucity of its flowers this species is remarkable in the genus. 
Except for this characteristic it might be placed in the § Amoena. 
