Undoubtedly there is a great similarity in the flowers of many groups of this genus that differ widely in their vegetative characteristics; yet when investigated differences in floral structure may often be found also, which, taken in conjunction with vegetative characters, are quite as great and as distinctive as those which separate genera in many other families of plants. This is the case with the plant at present under consideration, for I find that it has a combination of three floral characters, which, so far as known to me do not all occur together in any species of _Mesembryanthemum_, namely: (1) the calyx is produced into a distinct green tube above the ovary; (2) the stamens are all abruptly bent down into the calyx-tube; and (3) the stigma is sessile, undivided, and inconspicuous. Upon this combination of characters in conjunction with its vegetative character, I establish a new genus, and have much pleasure in naming it after its discoverer, Mrs. E. Rood, of Van Rhynsdorp, who sent living plants of it to Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Pretoria, where it flowered. The accompanying figure of it was sent to me by Dr. Pole Evans, together with a living plant and a flower in fluid, with some notes by Dr. E. P. Phillips, from which the description has been prepared.
DESCRIPTION:--A dwarf succulent plant branching at or below ground level and forming clumps about 8-11 cm. high. _Leaves_ 2 to each growth, or 4 when the new growth is made, 8-11 cm. long, 10-15 mm. thick, erect, nearly cylindric or finger-like, but with the inner face flattened, united at the base, obtuse at the apex, glabrous and smooth, green below, purplish at the apical part. _Peduncle_ erect, 3-6 cm. long, and 4-5 mm. thick at the apex, with a pair of bracts about 2 cm. long below the middle. _Calyx_ 6-lobed, tube (including the ovary) 10 mm. long, produced about 7 mm. above the ovary, about 10-11 mm. in diameter, slightly constricted under the lobes, glabrous, green; lobes unequal, 5-8 mm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, ovate, subacute or obtuse, four of them with membranous margins. _Corolla_ about 4 cm. in diameter, petals numerous, in about 4 series, loosely recurved, spreading over one another, the outer about 15 mm. long and 1 mm. broad, the others gradually shorter, all linear, obtuse or notched at the apex, bright magenta. _Stamens_ very numerous, all abruptly bent into and closely pressed against the calyx-tube in a dense mass, leaving a clear central opening to the stigma, the outermost series being the shortest. _Stigma_ sessile, sunk in a slight pit and level with the concave top of the ovary, entire, inconspicuous.