Gibbaeum nuciforme (G. cryptopodium) 1

A widely distributed species (from Zebra, between George and Oudtshoorn, to the Montagu area), often locally abundant on loamy soils with quartz pebbles.
The very soft, almost translucent bodies lie flat on the ground (cryptopodium literally means “with hidden foot”) and in dry periods often almost disappear from sight. In the rainy season they are yellowish green, often turning red in the dry period.  They are more or less round or egg-shaped (nuciforme = shaped like a nut).

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gibbnuci 7781#2012-05-09

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To be continued.

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