Month: August 2019

Euphorbia colliculina (vingerpol)

Only known from 4 localities between Calitzdorp and De Rust in the Little Karoo, this species is highly endangered by habitat loss and degradation (caused by ostrich farming and quarrying as well as soil erosion and urban expansion). The situation is further exacerbated by ruthless collecting.
It is a member of the medusoid (caput-medusae) group: the plant consists of a large caudex, an underground tuber and rings of erect to spreading branches which are 3-12 cm long and to 2 cm thick.
The species is said to be close to E. fortuita occurring further west in the Ladismith area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crassula deltoidea (katakiso)

Within its distribution area from southeastern Namibia through Bushmanland to the Little Karoo and the Cradock area, this species is widespread and often locally abundant on bare gravelly flats, lower slopes and ridges.
In spite of their lack of “rarity appeal”, it is always a joy to meet these plants in the field, because they are not only beautiful, but also show a great variation in size, shape  and colour. Unfortunately it is rather difficult to keep the plants neat and compact in cultivation.

In nature, its fleshy, erect to spreading branches give the plants a height of up to about 8 cm.
The leaves are rather variable in shape and size, up to 2 cm long and to 1.5 cm wide, inversely lance-shaped to diamond- or almond-shaped, with a flat to concave upper face and a strongly convex to keeled lower one; they are covered with small warts and grey wax flakes, and sometimes have a  greenish, purplish or brownish hue.
The flowers are about 5 mm long, usually cream-coloured, but sometimes white or pinkish. They appear in October and November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cephalophyllum subulatoides

Only three species of Cephalophyllum are known to occur in the Little Karoo and this is one of them; it also occurs somewhat more to the west, in the Worcester-Robertson Karoo. The other two are C. curtophyllum and C. purpureo-album.

With their short thick stems, the plants are rather more compact than most other Cephalophyllums. They form clumps up to 15 cm in diameter, the centres of which die off with age.
The dark green leaves are 5.5-8 cm long, triangular with a sharp point (subulatoides means awl-shaped).
In July-August the plants are decorated with magenta flowers about 3 cm in diameter. The staminodes are white.
The fruits are persistent; they have a rounded base and about 12 compartments.