Compact dwarf succulent, arising from a main tap root, not tuberous, further branching usually occurring below soil surface. Leaf pairs symmetric, occasionally anisophyllous, triangular in transverse section, occasionally semi-terete in lower two-thirds, with pellucid dots concentrated along the margins, dark green, sometimes tinged reddish, tapering abruptly into a hyaline point; old leaf bases persisting. Flowers small, ca. 15 mm diameter, white or rarely light pink. Calyx: with 5 sepals, 2 long and 3 short with membranous margins. Androecium: petaloid staminodes present, filaments of three lengths, outside, 5-6 mm long, middle 3-3.5 mm long, inner, 2-2.7 mm long. Ovary with 5 or occasionally 6 locules, stigmata ca. 4 mm long, variable. Fruit with lower part distinctly concave (attenuating into pedicel), top rather flat, valve rims prominently recurved, placenta forming protrusions or placental 'closing body', covering membrane thin, without spongy tissue, closing ledges present. Seeds orange; testa cells more or less isodiametrical to elongate with smooth, convex periclinal wall.
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