Anacampseros comptonii (1)

When you have a first look at the kind of habitat this species is found in, it looks bare and desolate.
The photo below was made in the beginning of April after good rains,  so one would expect a lot of activity going on.  And there is, but the plants growing here are so small, that you have to look properly to see them. Accidentally, the other interesting dwarf succulent growing in this spot near Nieuwoudtville is a Conophytum named after the same person  (Prof R.H. Compton, the second director of the National Botanical Gardens in South Africa). More about that at a later stage.

anaccomp-hab 7582#2012-04-04

The plants grow in very shallow depressions in flat sandstone rocks. After rains, the depressions are filled with water and the little plants are often completely submerged for some time. The following picture was taken in September.

anaccomp Scan150

In the dry period the plants are often almost invisible (the picture below was taken in November). Can you see the little caudexes?

anaccomp Scan102

The last picture gives a better idea of how charming these miniatures are when in flower  (the caudexes are only 1-2 cm in diameter and 1-1.5 cm tall) .

anaccomp 7578#2012-04-04

 

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