104 
NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
lata, interne connata, tubo 3 mm. longo; stamina ca. G-seriata, filamentis 
2 — 9 mm. longis, exterioribns tnbo coliaerentibus, antheris parvis, cum 
polline, aureis, staminodiis extimis petalis fere aequilongis; nectarium e 
foveolis 4 compositum; ovarium supra conico-elevatum, stigmatibus 
4 subulatis acuminatis rubicundis, 1-5 mm. longis, ovulis axillaribus; 
capsula (4 anni prioris visae), aqua expansa, 1-1 cm. diam., valvis 4, intra 
marginem late alatis, alis inflexis, carinis superne contiguis, seminibus 
subcompressis tuberculatis, margine minute cristatis, 1-5 mm. diam. 
Cape Province: Western Region; Little Namaqualand, sandy hills, 
Hondeklip Bay, fl. Oct. 1924, N. S. Pillans (Bolus Herbarium, No. 17757). 
Described from ample dried material and living specimens which 
flowered in Miss Arbuthnot’s garden, Nov. 1925, and in Mr Pillans’ garden, 
Nov. 1926. The variability in the length of the two long sepals is similar 
to that found in M. trichotomum, Thunb. (M. ebracteatum, Kensit) to 
which the present species is closely allied. 
Nananthixs Peersii, L. Bolus. Radix magna elongata tuberosa, apice ad 2-5 cm. 
diam., ramis abbreviatis confertis, dense 4 — 6-foliatis; folia patentia, 
demum recurva, expansa crassa, juniora linearia vel oblongo-linearia, 
seniora oblonga vel ovato-oblonga, obtusa vel saepius apicem versus 
sensim attenuata, supra plana vel apicem versus leviter concava, infra 
convexa, superne inconspicue carinata, rubro-brunnea velutina, pilis crebris 
canis brevissimis, saepius 2 — 2-5 cm., rarius ad 5 cm., longa, medio 0.7 — • 
2 cm. lata, ad 1 cm. diam., connata, vagina ad 5 mm. longa; flores solitarii 
nocturni odorati, 3 — 3-6 cm. diam., fere sessiles vel pedunculo ad 9 mm. 
longo; receptaculum breviter turbinatum; sepala 5, inter se subaequilonga, 
ovata vel oblongo-lanceolata, acuta vel obtusa, ad 1-1 cm. longa; petala 
3 — 4-seriata, sat laxa, linearia, saepius acuta, sordide rubro-lutea, inferne 
pallidiora, ad 1-3 cm. longa, vix ad 1 mm. lata; stamina primum erecta 
laxe cylindrico-collecta, collectione saepe lateraliter compressa, 6 mm. et 
9 mm. diam., filamentis pallide luteis, inferne albis, ad 8 mm. longis, 
interioribus dense barbatis, antheris pollineque pallidis; discus insigne 
conspicuus, annularis crenulatus; ovarium omnino inferum, supra semi- 
globose convexum, brevissime 12 — 13-lobatum, stigmatibus 12 — 13 
filiformibus, 3 mm. longis; capsula (immatura tantum visa) aqua expansa 
2-2 cm. diam., valvis dimidio superiore medio membranaceo- alatis, carinis 
basi fere contiguis, superne divergentibus, brevibus, ad quartam partem 
longitudinis valvae attingentibus, basi valvae utrinque ala membranacea 
semi-orbiculari, longe setaceoque acuminata, ad apicem valvae attingente, 
oriente, loculi alis fere omnino loculum tegentibus, seminibus parieti 
exteriore dispositis (immaturis levibus). 
Cape Province: Karroo Region; Willowmore Div., near Miller, alt. 
2235 ft., V. S. Peers (National Botanic Gardens, No. ifU). 
