Perennial succulent herb, rhizomatous, almost leafless; rhizomes subterranean, white with purple tips; stems erect, usually unbranched, succulent, 9.5–30 cm high, to 1.4 cm in diameter, subcylindrical, 5-ridged, tubercular, green or grey-green with the ribs usually darker green or reddish-brown.. Leaves represented by narrow scales 2–6 mm long, shrivelling quickly.. Capitula discoid, solitary or rarely 2 together, terminal on usually solitary 5–19 cm long scapes, green or dull purplish; bracts small, filiform; involucre cylindrical, 14–20 mm long, 10–12 mm in diameter; bracts of calyculus obscure or absent; phyllaries 7–10, reddish at least towards the apex, 14–20 mm long.. Ray florets absent; disc florets rich bright red, corolla 16–23.5 mm long, tube glabrous, slightly expanded in upper two-thirds, lobes 2.5–4 mm long.. Achenes 4–5 mm long, ribbed, glabrous or with sparse short hairs; pappus 16–22 mm long.
Home