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Mesembryanthemum (From mesembria midday)

(from mesembria, midday, and anthemon, a flower; in reference to the flowers opening better on sunny days). Fig Marigold. ORD. Ficoideae. A very extensive genus (about 300 species) of greenhouse, or rarely hardy, erect or prostrate, fleshy, leafy herbs or sub-shrubs, mostly natives of South Africa, a few being found in other parts of Africa, and in Australia, New Zealand, the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean region, and Arabia. Flowers white, yellow, or different shades of red, &c., conspicuous, axillary or terminal, cymose, paniculate, or corymbose; calyx tube adnate with the ovary; lobes five, rarely one to eight, unequal, herbaceous or scariose; petals many, one to many-seriate, inserted in the calyx tube, linear. Capsules tightly closed during dry weather, and opening naturally after rain (if placed in water until thoroughly soaked, and then removed, an old capsule will open out its carpellary valves, radiating from the centre, like a star, and will close them again when dry; this may be repeated several times without destroying its remarkable hygroscopic property). Leaves often opposite, thick, fleshy, very variable in shape, entire or furnished with spiny rigid hairs on the margins. The culture of most species of this genus is very simple, the great secret of success consisting in exposing the plants to the full sun at all times, and in not using too rich a soil. A compost of lime rubbish, yellow loam, sand, and decayed manure, in equal proportions, suits them well. Several species constitute very charming plants for window gardening, and many others can be grown with great success in the open from May until October. Propagation may be easily effected by pieces, pulled or cut off, and laid in the sun on moist sand, where they root freely in a few weeks. Except where otherwise stated, greenhouse treatment is required for the species here described. M. acinaciforme (scimitar-formed). fl. reddish, large, solitary, terminal. August.l.opposite, compressed, triquetrous, acinaciform, rather curled at the edges, and roughish. Stem rather procumbent, long. 1714. Evergreen trailer. SYN. M. rubrocinctum. (A. B. R. 508; B. M. 5539; M. A. S. section 19, Fig. 6.) M. adscendens (ascending). fl. yellow, pedunculate. August. l. broadly tongue-shaped, very blunt, ascending, green. 1805. Plant stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 8, Fig. 4.) M. agninum (lamb-chop). fl. yellow, sessile, solitary, central, expanding in the evening. May. l. semi-terete, serrulated from elevated dots, and hence somewhat toothed, with a large white pustule on the inside at the base. 1824. Plant almost stemless, canescent, wrinkled from dots, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 8.) M. albidum (white-leaved). fl. golden-yellow, large, agreeably scented. June to August. l. greenish-white, subulate, triquetrous; apex obtuse, mucronate. h. 6in. 1714. Evergreen shrub. (B. M. 1824.) M. albinatum (white-marked). fl. yellow, central, solitary, sessile. September. l. acinaciformly triquetrous upwards, with a recurved mucrone, full of scattered, rather elevated, whitish dots. h. 2in. 1823. Herbaceous. M. aurantiacum (orange-coloured). fl. deep orange-colour, large, solitary. June to August. l. bluntly triquetrous, somewhat compressed, very glaucous; bracts semi-terete. Stem erect. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1793. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 25, Fig. 2.) M. aureum (golden). fl. bright orange, with yellow stamens and dark purplish pistils. February to May. l. cylindric-triquetrous, glaucous. h. 1ft. 1750. An upright evergreen shrub. (B. M. 262.) M. australe (Southern). fl. pale pink, middle-sized; peduncles bluntly two-edged, bibracteate at the base. July. l. triquetrous, glaucescent, dotted, smooth, incurved. Stems semi-terete, creeping, shrubby. Australia, 1773. Evergreen. (M. A. S. section 18, Fig. 2.) M. barbatum (bearded). fl. flesh-coloured; tubercles five, dark green within the flower. June to August. l. rather remote, spreading, ending in five or six radiating hairs at the apex. Stems erect; branches effusely procumbent. h. 6in. to 9in. 1705. Evergreen shrub. SYN. M. stelligerum. (B. M. 70; M. A. S. section 52, Fig. 1.) M. bicolor (two-coloured). A synonym of M. coccineum. M. blandum (charming).* fl. at first white, but at length pale rose or red, large; peduncles equal, longer than the bracts. June. l. compressed, triquetrous, crowded, narrow, acutish, smooth. Stems shrubby; branches numerous, compressed, ascending. h. 1ft. 1810. Evergreen. (B. R. 582; M. A. S. section 26, Fig. 1.) M. Bolusii (Bolus'). fl., petals yellow in their lower half, red in the upper, numerous, spreading over the tops of the plant. l. two, large, fleshy, trigonous, keeled, truncate, pale glaucous-green, dotted with dark green. 1883. (B. M. 6664.) M. candens (glittering).* fl. white, terminal, solitary. June to August. l. cylindrical, incurved, canescent, glittering, obtuse. Branches long, weak, procumbent or prostrate. 1814. Evergreen trailer. (M. A. S. section 51, Fig. 4.) M. caninum (dog). fl. yellowish-orange, opening after midday; peduncles longer than the leaves. August to October. l. glaucous, carinately-triquetrous, rather club-shaped, incurved towards the apex, and, as well as the bracts, somewhat toothed. 1717. Plant almost stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 9.) M. caulescens (caulescent). fl. red, fragrant, numerous, aggregate, small. May to July. l. much-crowded, glaucous, rather long, triquetrously deltoid, with the sides hardly toothed, and the keel entire. Stems erect, branched. h. 1 1/2ft. 1731. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 30, Fig. 1.) M. coccineum (scarlet).* fl. scarlet, solitary; peduncles smooth at the base. May to September. l. teretely triquetrous, rather compressed, obtuse, glaucescent. Stems shrubby, erect. 1696. (L. B. C. 1033; M. A. S. section 46, Fig. 1; B. M. 59, under name of M. bicolor.) M. conspicuum (conspicuous).* fl. of a beautiful red, pedunculate. Autumn. l. green, glittering in sunshine, triquetrous, and as well as the branches, crowded. Floriferous stems erect. h. 1ft. 1806. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 27, Fig. 1.) M. Cooperi (Cooper's).* fl. handsome purple, solitary, about 2in. in diameter. l. terete, glaucous, pointed, studded with papillae. h. 3in. 1862. A much-branched decumbent herb. (B. M. 6312.) M. coralliforum (coral-flowered). fl. pink, solitary, showy. May. l. nearly terete, incurved, smooth, rather thicker in the middle, glaucous. Stems straight, much-branched. h. 1ft. 1820. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 40, Fig. 2.) M. cordifolium (cordate-leaved). fl. red, solitary, terminal, or rather lateral, on the elongated branches. May to September. l. opposite, flat, petiolate, ovate-cordate, rather papulose. Stems suffruticose, diffuse. 1774. Annual or biennial. (M. A. S. section 61, Fig. 1.) M. c. variegatum (variegated).* fl. bright rosy-purple, sessile. l. flat, fleshy, small, cordate, distinctly margined with cream-colour. A very handsome little perennial; it forms a diffuse yellowish mass, entirely covering the surface of the ground, and is largely employed in bedding-out designs. M. criniflorum (hairy-flowered), fl. pedunculate; petals purple, paler on the outside; stamens very short; calyx lobes five, unequal, larger ones oblong and contracted in the middle. July. l. opposite, cuneiform, flat, obtuse, rather scabrous from papulae. Stems short, branched from the base, herbaceous. h. 6in. 1774. SYN. M. cuneifolium.

M. cruciatum (cross-leaved). fl. yellow, large, solitary; peduncles two-edged, 1in. to 2in. long. May to November. l. linear-tongue-shaped, semi-cylindrical, very soft, cruciate. 1792. Plant nearly stemless; old stems 3in. high. Herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 7, Fig. 7.) M. crystallinum (crystalline).* Ice Plant. fl. white, axillary, almost sessile, May to August. l. ovate, sessile, alternate, stem-clasping, undulated. 1775. Plant diffusely procumbent, herbaceous, covered with large glittering papulae on every part, which makes the plant appear as if covered with ice. Hardy annual. This species is sometimes grown for garnishing purposes. It is a most effective plant for the rockwork, and thrives in any moderately good soil, and in a sunny situation. Seeds should be sown in gentle heat, during March, and the seedlings planted out in the open in June. M. cultratum (cultrate). fl. of a shining yellow above, and reddish beneath, large, solitary; peduncles compressed, rather longer than the flowers. Autumn. l. distichous, tongue-shaped, cultrate at the margin and apex, 3in. to 4in. long. h. 6in. 1820. Plant almost stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 8, Fig. 5.) M. cuneifolium (wedge-shape-leaved). A synonym of M. criniflorum. M. curtum (short-sheathed). fl. white, terminal, sub-paniculate. June. l. connate and sheathing at the base, usually approximate, incurved, smooth, green, with the angles rough at the top. Stem erect, bushy. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 36, Fig. 6.) M. curvifolium (curved-leaved). fl. white, or ultimately rose, large; peduncles clavate, length of bracts. June. l. compressed, triquetrous, glaucescent. Stem shrubby; branches robust, terete. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1818. Closely allied to M. blandum. (M. A. S. section 47, Fig. 2.) M. deltoides (deltoid). fl. rose-coloured, sweet-scented, ternate or cymose. Summer. l. incurvate, erect, glaucous, trifariously toothed. An erect, shrubby species, with reddish-brown branches.

M. densum (dense).* fl. pink; peduncles hispid; calycine leaflets almost, equal, twice as short as the petals. June. l. semi-cylindric, crowded with prickles at the apices. h. 3in. 1732. Evergreen trailer. (B. M. 1220.) M. depressum (depressed). fl. yellow, large, solitary, sessile. September. l. pale, narrow-tongue-shaped, obtuse, recurved, depressed, variously incurved at the apex. h. 1 1/2ft. 1795. Plant almost stemless, prostrate, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 8, Fig. 7.) M. diversifolium (diverse-leaved). fl. yellowish-brown, striated by a red line on the outside, pedunculate. May. l. very long, triquetrously semi-cylindrical, rather recurved, green, crowded in heads. Stems prostrate, rather nodose; adult ones robust, angular, red and yellow. 1726. Shrubby. (M. A. S. section 15, Fig. 2.) M. dolabriforme (hatchet-shaped). fl. yellow, fully expanding in the evening and night only. June. l. somewhat resembling a hatchet in shape, dotted. h. 6in. 1705. A free-flowering evergreen. (B. M. 32.) M. echinatum (hedgehog). fl. yellow. August. l. oblong-ovate, filled, rather triquetrous, gibbous, ramentaceously echinated. Stems erect, branched. h. 3in. to 6in. 1774. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 53, Fig. 2.) M. edule (edible).* Hottentot Fig. fl. yellow, large, solitary, terminal. July. l. equally triquetrous, dotless, a little channelled, attenuated at both ends, with the keel serrulated. Branches expanded, with quite entire angles. 1690. This prostrate shrub is nearly hardy in dry, sunny spots in the southern counties.

M. elegans (elegant). fl. reddish, pedunculate, middle-sized. May to October. l. rather triquetrous, very glaucous, scabrous. Stems suffruticose; branches decumbent, white. 1724. Shrub. SYN. M. retroflexum.

M. emarginatum (emarginate). fl. pale red, solitary; peduncles bibracteate. June l. triquetrous, scabrous, glaucescent. Stems suffruticose; branches expanded, filiform. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1732. (M. A. S. section 48, Fig. 4.) M. ermininum (ermine). fl. yellow, solitary, terminal, opening in the evening. May. l. triquetrous, wrinkled from large dots; margins with short teeth at the apex. h. 1 1/2in. 1824. Plant almost stemless, glaucous. A densely-tufted herb. (M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 6.) M. falciforme (sickle-shaped). fl. pink, terminal, solitary or ternate, expanding at midday, fragrant, pedunculate. l. in clusters, thick, falcate, acinaciform, glaucous, large-dotted. Stems sub-erect, flexuose, woody, rigid. h. 1 1/2ft. 1805. Evergreen shrub. (M. A. S. section 29, Fig. 1.) M. fastigiatum (fastigiate). fl. of a fulvous colour on the outside, whiter and paler on the inside, solitary, middle-sized. July to September. l. crowded, flexuously reflexed, subulate, semiterete, glaucescent. Stems slender, erect at first, but at length becoming decumbent. h. 1ft. 1794. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 44, Fig. 3.) M. felinum (cat). fl. yellow, expanding after midday, sessile, solitary. August to November. l. 1 1/2in. long, ciliated, with long teeth, obsoletely dotted, cartilaginously keeled at the apex, full of pellucid dots when examined by the light. 1730. Plant stemless, glaucescent, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 2.) M. floribundum (bundle-flowered).* fl. pale red, with the petals white at the base, numerous, expanding before midday. May to October. l. almost cylindrical, somewhat incurved, papulose, obtuse. Stems suffruticose, bushy; branches spreading, very numerous. h. 6in. 1704. (M. A. S. section 51, Fig. 7.) M. formosum (beautiful).* fl. purplish (filaments white). terminal, disposed by threes, pedunculate. August. l. triquetrous, long, green, glittering in sunshine, much-crowded, but more remote on the branches. Stems suffruticose, dwarf. h. 1ft. 1820. (M. A. S. section 27, Fig. 4.) M. fragrans (fragrant). fl. yellow, 3in. in diameter, fragrant, solitary, on a short peduncle. August. l. tongue-shaped, thick, one side rather convex and obtuse at the apex, the other side thrown out into a keel. h. 6in. Plant almost stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 8, Fig. 2.) M. geminiflorum (twin-flowered). fl. pale pink, small, terminal. April and May. l. erect, spreading, triquetrous, glaucous, smooth, cartilaginous at the margins. Stems suffruticose, dwarf; branchlets dichotomous, ascending. h. 1ft. 1792. Evergreen.

M. glaucinum (bluish-grey). A synonym of M. mutabile. M. grandiflorum (large-flowered). fl. yellow, almost scentless, large, sessile. July. l. broad tongue-shaped, long, thick, having a large pustule on the inside at the base. h. 3in. 1824. Plant herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 8, Fig. 3.) M. hirtum (hairy). fl. of a bright purple, about 1 1/2in. in diameter, terminal, usually solitary, sometimes two or three together. Summer. l. connate at base, sub-erect, recurving, linear, attenuate, both surfaces covered with minute glistening papillae. Stems diffuse, procumbent, terete. h. 3in. 1862. Herbaceous. (G. C. n.s., x. p. 138.) M. imbricans (imbricating). fl. red, pedunculate. May to October. l. linear, obsoletely triquetrous, smoothish, of a whitish-glaucous colour, imbricately crowded at the top of the canescent branches. Stems erect, shrubby. 1818. M. imbricatum (imbricated). A synonym of M. multiflorum. M. inclaudens (never-closing).* fl. purplish-pink, scentless, always open; inner petals somewhat imbricated. June. l. dolabriform, green, tipped with red. Branches red. h. 1 1/2ft. 1805. Evergreen shrub. The flowers of this plant are useful for cutting purposes, as they will last for several days. (A. B. R. 384.) M. introrsum (introrse). fl. on long, slender, terminal peduncles; calyx tube turbinately hemispheric, obscurely obtusely angled, green; limb of five spreading and recurved segments; petals in two series, very various in colour, white, fading to rose, or ochreous or red. l. in distant pairs, somewhat recurved, semi-terete, with very rounded sides, tipped with brown bristles, connate at base, light green, fleshy. Stems branched from the base. South Africa, 1824. (B. M. 6057.) M. linguaeforme (tongue-formed). fl. yellow, solitary, on very short peduncles. March to November. l. unequally tongue-shaped, thick, green, keeled on one side. h. 6in. 1732. Plant stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 8, Fig. 8.) M. lupinum (wolf). fl. yellow; petals two or three-seriate. Summer. l. glaucescent; marginal ciliae very long and numerous. Plant stemless. Very closely allied to, and perhaps only a variety of, M. felinum. (M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 3.) M. micans (glittering). fl. usually brownish-scarlet, with a golden-yellow center, but varying in colour, pedunculate, 1 1/2in. in diameter. July and August. l. sub-cylindric, and, as well as the flower-stalks, covered with conspicuous glittering particles. Stem erect. h. 2ft to 3ft. 1704. Evergreen shrub. (B. M. 448.) M. microphyllum (small-leaved). fl. reddish, small, solitary, on short peduncles. May. l. connate, triquetrous, acuminated, a little awned, green, dotted, pustulate on the inside at the base. Stems short, densely branched, decumbent. 1795. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 34. Fig. 2.) M. minimum (smallest). fl. very pale yellow, almost white, solitary, sessile, central. September to December. h. 1/2in. 1776. Plant stemless, obconical, glaucescent, herbaceous, with confluent, rather branched, spots. M. minutum (minute).* fl. long, tubular; petals pale yellow in the free part, spreading; tube slender, 1/2in. long. September to November. 1795. Plant stemless, obconical, glaucous, hardly the size of a common bean, and without spots. Evergreen shrub. (B. M. 1376.) M. molle (soft). fl. pale red, small, solitary, terminal. October. l. spreading, turgidly triquetrous, firm, canescent, the margins blunt, and lined with dots. Branches crowded, two-edged, decumbent. h. 1ft. 1774. Evergreen. M. multiflorum (many-flowered).* fl. white, panicled, numerous, nearly 1in. in diameter; peduncles bracteate even to the calyx. July. l. connate and sheathing at the base, glaucous, remote, smooth, dotted, rather compressed, triquetrous. Stems and branches erect, sub-tetragonal. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1792. Shrub. SYN. M. imbricatum. (M. A. S. section 37, Fig. 1.) There are three or four varieties of this species, including minus, nitens, and patens. M. muricatum (muricated). fl. red, numerous, aggregate, small, fragrant. May. l. crowded, deltoid, glaucous, and, as well as the bracts and lobes of calyx, trifariously denticulated. Stem erect, branched. h. 1 1/2ft. 1731. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 30, Fig. 3.) M. murinum (mouse). fl. yellow, small, solitary, sessile. September. l. ciliately denticulated, three rows on each side, and full of tubercular dots, with the margin and keel ciliately denticulated at the apex. h. 1 1/2in. 1790. Plant almost stemless, glaucous, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 4.) M. mutabile (changeable). fl. reddish, solitary, on short pedicels. July to September. l. nearly distinct, crowded, triquetrous, dotted, with a cartilaginous, entire keel. Stems shrubby, erect, branched, two-edged. h. 1 1/2ft. 1792. Shrub. SYN. M. glaucinum. (M. A. S. section 21, Fig. 3.) M. nobile (noble). fl. yellow, scentless, large, sessile, opening before midday, bibracteate at the base. July. l. coarsely and triquetrously clavate, obtuse, somewhat recurved, rather concave above, marked by large elevated tubercles. h. 1 1/2in. 1822. Plant rather caulescent, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 4, Fig. 1.) M. obcordellum (reversed-heart-shaped). fl. whitish, small, sessile. June. h. 1 1/2in. 1794. Plant stemless, obconical, glaucescent, with confluent branched dots. Evergreen shrub. (B. M. 1647.) M. octophyllum (eight-leaved). A synonym of M. testiculatum. M. patulum (spreading). fl. pale red, solitary, pedunculate. June. l. compressed, triquetrous, very glaucous, attenuated at both ends, acinaciform. Stems suffruticose, erect. h. 1 1/2ft. There are several varieties of this species.

M. polyanthum (many-flowered). fl. pale red, small, very numerous, panicled. August. l. small, glaucous, triquetrous, scabrous. Branches flexuous, crowded; bark on young stems rufous. h. 1ft. 1 1/2ft. 1803. Shrub. M. polyphyllum (many-leaved). A synonym of M. violaceum. M. pomeridianum (afternoon). fl. yellow, large, expanding after midday, solitary, on axillary, very long, hairy peduncles. July. l. broad-lanceolate, flat, smooth, ciliated, nearly distinct. Stems hairy, terete, branched. h. 1ft. 1774. A very pretty hardy annual. (B. M. 540; M. A. S. section 65, Fig. 1.) M. pugioniforme (dagger-formed). fl. pale yellow, large; peduncles bracteate. July to September. l. alternate, crowded at the tips of the branches, glaucous, triquetrous. Stems erectish, suffruticose; branches few, terete, decumbent. h. 1ft. 1714. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 16, Fig. 4.) M. purpureo-album (purple and white).* fl. showy; petals white, polished, naked, with a broad dark purple line; peduncles filiform. August. l. green, triquetrously semi-cylindrical, full of little dots; upper ones crowded. Branches short, angular, prostrate, furrowed, yellowish. 1824. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 15, Fig. 3.) M. retroflexum (reflexed). A synonym of M. elegans.

M. Rossii (Ross'). fl. white at base, deep purple above, solitary, terminal, large, showy. Summer. l. acinaciform, or compressedly triquetrous, glaucescent, with red, smooth, cartilaginous edges. Stems decumbently prostrate. 1820. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 19, Fig. 2.) M. rostratum (beaked). fl. yellow, expanding in the sun, solitary, pedunculate; bracts two, longer than the scape. h. 3in. 1742. Plant stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 3, Fig. 7.) M. rubrocinctum (red-girded). A synonym of M. acinaciforme. M. Salmii (Salm-Dyck's). fl. yellow, large, sessile, September to November. l. decussate, semi-cylindrical, attenuate and acute at the apex, or oblique and bluntish. h. 6in. 1820. Plant nearly stemless, herbaceous. (M. A. S. section 7, Fig. 8.) M. serratulum (serrate). fl. yellow, with purple lines, ternately disposed, solitary. November and December. l. sub-connate, triquetrous, subulate, elongate, dotted, serrated at the angles or only at the keel, and rather glaucous, usually longer than the internodes, with the margins minutely serrulated, but hardly cartilaginous. Stems shrubby, when young erect; branches erectly decumbent. 1795.

M. setuliferum (bristly). fl. bright violaceous, solitary in the forkings of the branches; peduncle slender, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long. June. l. usually rather distant, sub-cylindrical, blunt, covered with setuliferous papillae, ending in a tuft of from seven to sixteen flexuouse, white, radiating hairs. Stems branching diffusely; branches procumbent, 1ft. or more long. 1876. Shrub. M. spectabile (showy).* fl. of a beautiful red, 2in. in diameter. May to August. l. glaucous, triquetrous, and, as well as the branches, crowded. Stems rather dwarf; floriferous ones ascending or erect. h. 1ft. 1787. Shrub. (B. M. 396; M. A. S. section 27, Fig. 3.) M. stelligerum (star-bearing). A synonym of M. barbatum. M. stipulaceum (stipuled). fl. light red, paler on the under side, 2in. in diameter, solitary. May. l. teretely triquetrous, long, subulate, incurved, glaucous, full of pellucid dots, margined at the base. Stems shrubby, and, as well as the branches, erect. h. 1ft. 1723. (M. A. S. section 40, Fig. 3.) M. striatum (striped). fl. reddish, with a deeper-coloured line in the middle, expanding before noon; peduncles hispid. May to October. l. semi-cylindrical, subulate, papulose. Stems erect. h. 9in. 1727. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 51, Fig. 1.) M. subulatum (subulate). fl., petals white, with a purple midrib, solitary, pedicellate. June. l. rather glaucous, triquetrously subulate, denticulated at the apex. Stems branched. Plant herbaceous.

M. sulcatum (furrowed). fl. white, spotted with rose, middle-sized, solitary. August. l. crowded, linear-subulate, semi-terete-channelled, pale green, adult ones expanded. Stems shrubby, erect. h. 2ft. 1819. (M. A. S. section 44, Fig. 1.) M. Sutherlandi (Sutherland's). fl. lilac, with a yellow centre, 2in. to 2 1/2in. broad. Summer. l. oblong-lanceolate, recurved, scaberulous at the edge. h. 3in. 1870. (B. M. 6299.) M. tenuifolium (slender-leaved). fl. copper-red, solitary; peduncles elongated, naked. June to September. l. semi-terete, rather compressed, subulate, green, glabrous, longer than the internodes. Stems shrubby, erectish. h. 1ft. 1700. (M. A. S. section 46, Fig. 6.) M. testiculatum (testiculated). fl. yellow, nearly 1in. in diameter; calyx six-cleft, with two leaf-bracts at base. November. l. six to eight, white, smooth, rather erect, convex beneath, flat above. h. 1 1/2in. 1819. Plant stemless, shrubby. SYN. M. octophyllum. (B. M. 1573.) M. tigrinum (tiger). fl. yellow, expanding after noon, large, central, sessile. September to November. l. stem-clasping, ovate-cordate, expanded, marbled with white, flat above, ciliated with long hairs, cartilaginously keeled at the apex. h. 3in. 1790. Plant stemless, greenish, herbaceous. (B. R. 260; M. A. S. section 5, Fig. 1.) M. tricolorum (three-coloured).* fl. large, shining, pedunculate; petals straw-coloured, blood-coloured at the base. April. l. exactly cylindrical, acute, green. Stems prostrate; branches distant. 1794. (M. A. S. section 15, Fig. 7.) M. truncatellum (truncate). fl. solitary, sessile; calyx tube sunk and tightly wedged between the two uppermost leaves, the limb five or six-cleft, the lobes obtuse, tinged purple; petals straw-coloured, in two series; stamens numerous; anthers yellow. October. l. very fleshy, broadly cuneate, connate to above the middle; back and face convex; crown lunate, brown, mottled, convex. 1795. Plant forming tufts of pale glaucous-green, obconic, truncate, translucent, fleshy masses. (B. M. 6077.) M. uncinatum (hooked-leaved). fl. red, middle-sized, solitary. August. l. connate, and sheathing at the base, rather decurrent, green, dotted, triquetrous, furnished with two spines underneath at the apex. Stems shrubby, erect. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1725. (M. A. S. section 33, Fig. 3.) M. vaginatum (sheathed). fl. white, small, panicled, numerous. July. l. spreading, straight, remote, triquetrous, rather recurved at the apex, and, as well as the sheaths, green and glabrous, but with the angles rough near the top. Stems erect, bushy. h. 1 1/2ft. 1882. Shrub. (M. A. S. section 36, Fig. 4.) M. variabile (variable). fl. yellow, at length becoming reddish, solitary, pedunculate, expanding in the morning. July. l. somewhat triquetrous, compressed, glaucous, scabrous. Stems shrubby, effuse, rather decumbent. h. 1 1/2ft. 1796. (M. A. S. section 46, Fig. 2.) M. violaceum (violaceous).* fl. flesh-coloured to violet, expanding in the heat of the sun; peduncles one-flowered, naked or bracteate at the very base. June to October. l. triquetrously semi-terete, rough from dots, acute, glaucous. Stems shrubby, erect; branches violaceous, expanded. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1820. SYN. M. polyphyllum. (M. A. S. section 48, Fig. 3.) M. viridiflorum (green-flowered). fl. greenish; petals very narrow; calyx hairy. July to November. l. semi-terete, beset with papulose hairs. Branches diffuse. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1774. Shrub. (B. M. 326.) M. vittatum (striped). fl. bright shining yellow, paler on the back, with a narrow red line down the centre on both sides; peduncle one-flowered, bibracteate at the base. November. l. connate at the base, erect, lanceolate, acute, mucronate. Plant sub-acaulescent, caespitose, forming dense tufts, 11/2in. to 2in. high. 1877.