Xerophyte

Leaves

Ovoid-triangular less than 1.5 mm long, falling early, not erect.

Description

Echidnopsis montanaSN|30428]]SN|30428]] is a low, perennial succulent that spread over the ground forming cushions. Flowers are five-pointed fleshy stars produced in late Summer or Autumn.

Taxonomy

E. montana was originally described and named at a time when the few known species of Echidnopsis had a round corolla with short, broadly triangular lobes. The similarity of the long, linear, deeply divided corolla lobes of this species with those of Caralluma framesii and Caralluma baldratii led Dyer and Bruce to describe it as a Caralluma, but with out present knowledge of Echidnopsis, it is evident that the plant belongs to that genus.

Flowers

Corolla greenish yellow or purplish brown with greenish yellow, slightly thickened tips. Lobes more than 3 times as long as broad at base, hairless, linear. Corona 2.5 mm across, pentagonal to circular, outer lobes whitish spotted with purple, forming usually a deep cup with narrow expanse of tissue at mouth, inner face with long white hairs.

Stem

Cylindrical, procumbent, rooting from the bases, usually with runners, to 20 cm long and 7-15 mm thick, 6-angled. Tubercles 1-3 mm hight, 4-angled.