94 
NOVITATES AFRICAN AE 
ponentia, 8 mm. diam. vel ultra, filamentis purpureis, interioribus basi 
parce barbatis, ad 6 mm. longis, antheris pollineque brunneo-purpureis ; 
discus inconspicuus annularis; ovarium supra semi-globosum, 5-lobum, 
lobis rotundatis, stigmatibus 5, late patentibus, sat crassis, mollibus 
subdeliquescentibus oblongis setaceo-apiculatis, 3 — 4 mm. longis. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Malmesbury Div., exhibited at 
a show of wild flowers and reported as having been collected on the 
Paardeberg, October, 1926 (Bolus Herbarium, No. 18532). 
Described from several living specimens. Although a plant of lowly 
stature, the magnificent colouring of the flower amply justifies the specific 
name. It frequently happens that the splendid brilliance of colour in flowers 
of this genus is too dazzling to look at with pleasure; but in the present 
species the rich coppery red of the petals is so deep that the eye can rest 
upon it with delight, even burnished as it is in the sunlight. The purplish- 
brown colour of the anthers and pollen is very unusual in the genus. The 
affinity is with those species in this section having the stamens more or less 
diffuse in the early stages of development. 
Mesembrianthemum Muirianum, L. Bolus (§ Vaginata). Fruticulus erectus 
rigidus, 15 — 20 cm. altus, caule basi ima cum aetate 1cm. diam., ramis 
2 — 6 mm. diam., internodiis 0-5 — 2 cm. longis; folia adscendentia, rarius 
patentia, apice interdum subrecurvata, carinata, supra lateraliterque 
plana vel leviter convexa, acuta, angulis integerrimis, ad 2-5 cm. longa, 
3 mm. lata diametroque, connata more sectionis, vagina 6 — 7 mm. longa; 
flores solitarii, sat pauci, meridiani, 1-9 cm. diam., pedunculo 1-3 — 2-5 cm. 
longo, prope medium bracteato; receptaculum turbinatum verrucosum; 
sepala 5, inter se subaequilonga lanceolata, 4 — 5 mm. longa, 3 late mem- 
branaceo-marginata ; petala 15 — 20, sat laxa, 1-seriata, lineari-spathulata 
obtusa purpureo-rosea, purpureo-vittata, 8 mm. longa, fere ad 2 mm. lata; 
stamina conico-collecta, apice 1-5 mm. diam., staminodiis paucis, basi 
dilatatis, parce barbatis, albis, superne purpureis circumdata, filamentis 
pallidis barbatis, superne purpureis, ad 4 mm. longis, antheris pollineque 
pallidis; discus conspicuus annularis crenulatus, 4mm. diam.; ovarium 
supra leviter convexum, obscure 5-lobatum, stigmatibus anguste subulatis 
acuminatis, 4 mm. longis. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Ladismith Div., Muiskraal, fl. 
Sept. 1923, Dr John Muir, 3938. 
Described from living plants. Allied to M. vaginatum, Haw., but may 
be distinguished by the entire leaf-angles, and by the broader, purple- 
pink petals which, together with the flowers, are also far less numerous 
than is usual in this section. 
Mesembrianthemum Renniei, L. Bolus. Glabrum, radice cum aetate crassa 
tuberosa elongata, ad 9 cm. longa, 2-5 cm. diam., caule abbreviato, ramis 
