Mesembryanthemum, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 853.
Mesembryanthemum crassipes, Marloth, sp. nov. habitu M. rosulati (Kensit in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. i. p. 155, pi. xxib) et M. calcarei, Marl. (Flora of S. A. vol. i. pl. 52) sed foliis cuneatis aspero-marginatis et floribus roseis 5-meris distincta.
Planta subacaulis, ramis paucis brevissimis e radice crasso carnoso ramoso. Folia in rosulam aggregata, plana, cuneata, crassa, suberecta, apice retusa vel rotundata, apicem versus margineque tuberculis minutis griseis numerosis munita. Flores apice ramulorum solitarii. Calyx 5-fidus, lobis subaequalibus triangularibus, colore griseo foliorum. Petala lanceolata, uniseriata, saturate rosea. Stamina incarnata basin versus barbata. Stigmata 8-10, filiformia, staminibus aequilonga.
This is a beautiful plant when in flower, owing to the contrast between the deep pink petals and the rugose grey leaves. It was collected on a stony plain of grey shale near Sutherland, at an altitude of 4600 feet, by Dr. R. Marloth, and flowered in his garden at Cape Town in September, 1921.
Description:—Root thick, fleshy, simple or branched up to 30 mm. in diam. and 20 cm. long. Stem none, but one or more short branches arising from the crown of the caudex. Leaves crowded, 6-10 on a branch, mostly erect and exposing the margin to the midday sun, cuneate, gradually narrowed to the base, the apex straight or slightly rounded, occasionally with a blunt mucro; the apical portion, and especially the apical margin, closely covered with fine tubercles; on the wild plant the entire leaf greyish-green, the margin reddish. Flowers solitary on each branch, sessile or subsessile, supported by 2 connate leaf-like bracts. Calyx turbiniform, 10-12 mm. long, the tube 11-13 mm. in diam. at the mouth; sepals 5, of which 3 nearly equal, the 2 others narrower, all triangular, 10 mm. long and wide, with a very narrow hyaline margin and a thick umbo below the apex, finely tuberculate like the leaves, grey, the margin red. Petals uniseriate, narrow-lanceolate or spathulate, 13-14 mm. long and 2-2·5 mm. wide in the middle, deep pink on the inner side, paler on the outer side. Stamens white, bending inwards near the base and then erect, bearded at the bend. Styles 8-10, filiform, 6 mm. long, arising from the apex of the conical ovary. Total diam. of open flower 20-25 mm., opening in the sun and closing towards evening for several days.
Plate 73.—Fig. 1, longitudinal section through the flower; Fig. 2, calyx; Fig. 3, gynaecium; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, petals and stamen; Fig. 8, entire leaf; Fig. 9, cross-sections of leaf.
F.P.S.A., 1922.