Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Silverton, near Pretoria, in May, 1921, and represents the best known and most widely distributed species of the genus. The plant shows the characteristic habit of all the species, viz. stemless, with the flower head hidden by large bracts which may be white, green, or purplish. In cultivation it does not lend itself to planting out, but makes a striking and pleasing object when placed singly in pots. Specimens of the plant figured are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1451). DESCRIPTION:--A stemless plant. _Bulb_ about 1·5 cm. in diameter, globose, covered with more or less hardened black tunics. _Leaves_ 2-3, 14-22 cm. long, linear from an ovate base, acutely acuminate, glabrous. _Bracts_ white or purplish, several, 3-8·5 cm. long, ·8-3·5 cm. broad, oblong, ovate-oblong or ovate, obtuse or sometimes apiculate at the apex, sometimes acuminate, many nerved (up to 50-nerved). _Head_ about 6-flowered, hidden and overtopped by the bracts. _Bracts_ subtending the flowers about 3·5 cm. long, lanceolate, acute, 5-nerved. _Pedicel_ 3 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad above, obovoid, fleshy. _Perianth segments_ produced into a distinct claw; claw 5 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, with a more or less distinct keel; blade 6 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, ovate, cucullate, acuminate, 3-keeled. _Stamens_ inserted at the junction of the claw and blade; filaments 9 mm. long, terete; anthers 3 mm. long, elliptic. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, 2·5 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid, subtrigonous; styles free, 8 mm. long, terete; stigma simple, * * * * * PLATE 53.--Fig. 1, plant viewed from above (reduced); Fig. 2, inflorescence; Fig. 3, flower with bract; Fig. 4, perianth segment with stamen, front view; Fig. 5, perianth segment with stamen, side view; Fig. 6, gynaecium. F.P.S.A., 1922. [Illustration: _54._ S. Gower del.] PLATE 54. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM ALOIDES. _Bechuanaland._ * * * * * FICOIDEAE. Tribe MEBEMBRYANTHEMEAE. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f._ vol. i. p. 853. * * * * * =Mesembryanthemum aloides=, _Haw. Suppl._ p. 88; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 396. * * * * * This extremely rare plant, which was first found by Burchell at Metlowing and at Jabirn Fontein, near Takun in Bechuanaland, in 1812, was recently rediscovered by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans near Postmas Berg, and has been established in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria. In the _Journal of the Linnean Society_ (vol. xlv. p. 123) for 1920, Mr. N. E. Brown gives a fuller description of the species based mainly on a coloured drawing of the plant made by Burchell, who states that the roots are “eaten by natives as a substitute for better food.”