Delosperma sphalmanthoides S.A.Hammer

Plant forming small flat mats or tufts of short ± erect branches to 90 mm diam. Roots not thickened, whitish, laterally splayed. Stems to 2 mm thick, concealed by the new active leaves and by the whitish non-spinescent remains of the old. Leaves soft, opposite, erect in unequal pairs, to 12 mm x 2 mm x 2 mm, ± cylindric, slightly flattened on the inner surface, subtly keeled near the apex. Epidermis pale greyish-blue to pinkish-blue, reddish at the leaf tips, papillate, papillae nearly contiguous, elliptic in outline, to 0.7 mm x 0.4 mm, flattish except at the keels and margins, not shining. Flowers vernal, opening widely in the morning, scentless, solitary, self-fertile. Bracts leaf-like. Pedicel to 6 mm long x 1 mm thick, cylindric. Sepals 5, ± equal, to 4 mm long x 2 mm wide, pale green with whitish margins, rubicund at the acute tips, papillate. Petals 18-22 in 1-2 series, free, to 6 mm long, 1 mm wide, narrowed at the base, rounded at the apex, light magenta with darker streaks, stamens ca. 35 in 2 ± diffuse series, the outer series often standing apart, filaments to 4 mm long x 0.3 mm thick, slightly recurved, densely bearded at the base, pale yellowish-green, anthers 0.5 mm long, pale yellow. Gynoecium to 4 mm diam., well-exposed when the flower is mature, nectaries ca. 25, contiguous, dark green, stigmas 5, awl-shaped, to 2 mm long x 1 mm thick, separate, papillate, pale green. Capsule rather quickly formed, reddish and fleshy for a few weeks, thereafter dry, firm, and pale brown, often darker brown above, 5-locular, 2-3 mm long x 3 mm diam., shallow, sutures not well-sealed. Seeds pale greyish-brown, 0.80 mm x 0.58 mm x 0.48 mm, fat-pyriform, covered with pale rounded pustules.