NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
105 
Described from ample living material which flowered at Kirstenbosch 
Aug.-Sept. 1926. The time at which the flower was fully expanded varied 
from 6-30-10.30 and it was still open at midnight. 
This is probably the same as the plant described by Berger (“Mesem- 
brianthemen,” p. 279) as being M. canum, Haw., a species which Haworth 
likens to his M. magnipunctatum. (The only plant I know which seems 
to answer to the description of M. canum, Haw., is M. Orpenii, N.E.Br., 
from Griqualand West.) I have not been able to place this species satis 
factorily in any of the genera included in the key published by Mr Brown 
in “The Gardeners’ Chronicle” (Nov. 21-28, 1925). Its affinities are with 
M. rosulatum, Kensit, M. calcareum, Marloth, M. spathulatum, Thunb., 
and with two undescribed species of which there is incomplete material 
in the Bolus Herbarium. It differs from the genus Nananthus, so far as 
this is described in the key mentioned above, in having 12 — 13 stigmas, 
and undotted leaves which often have a tendency towards being ovate. 
Psilocaulon fimbriatum, L. Bolus. Fruticulus erectus, multo ramosus, ex- 
siccatus pallide luteo-viridis, partibus herbaceis minute papillatis, 
junioribus parce pubescentibus pilis papilliformibus minutis, senioribus 
scaberulis vel tuberculatis, caule basi suberoso, ad 6 mm. diam., ramis 
adscendentibus vel infimis fere patentibus, teretibus, ad 3 mm. diam., 
internodiis cylindricis, saepius 0-5 — 1 cm. longis, ramulis 1-5 — 2 mm. 
diam.; folia adscendentia vel fere erecta, supra plana, subtus convexa, 
acuta apiculataque, basi ampliata, late amplexicauli, mox vel ab initio 
lutescente, margine membranaceo, parum supra basin ampliatam per- 
sistentem constricta, tardius disarticulata, ad 1-2 cm., saepius 0-7 — 0-9 
cm., longa, medio 1-5 mm. lata diametroque, basi distincta vel rarius 
brevissime connata; ramuli floriferi 1 — 3 cm. longi, fere erecti, saepe 
secundi, 1 — 5-fl., pedunculis 1 — 5 mm. longis; receptaculum turbinatum, 
ultra ovarium per 1 mm. productum; sepala 5, inter se fere aequilonga, 
lanceolata vel oblonga, minute apiculata, 3 membranaceo-marginata, 
2 — 2-5 mm. longa, diu persistentia, dernum circumscissiliter decidua, 
receptaculi tubo persistente; petala 2-seriata, basi connata, dimidio 
superiore vel ultra serrata vel lacerata vel fimbriata, longe setaceo-acu- 
minata, inf erne angustata, medio latissima, 1 mm. lata vel parum ultra, 
pallide straminea vel alba, translucentia, 4 mm. longa; stamina erecta 
laxa, basi ad petala brevissime adnata, filamentis petalis subaequilongis, 
pallide luteis, antheris conspicuis ultra petala le viter exsertis, cum polline 
laete luteis; ovarium fere omnino superum, conico-convexum, ovulis 
axillaribus, stigmatibus 5, angustissime subulatis, acuminatis, 2 mm. 
longis; capsula fere globosa, basi 3-5 mm. diam., aqua expansa 7 mm. 
diam., valvis late patentibus, marginibus deflexis, carinis contiguis, 
membrana e basi valvae utrinque oriente, lateribus fere ad apicem valvae 
