Xerophyte

Leaves

To 2 mm, deltoid, curved down-wards, not erect, falling early or sometimes persistent.

Description

Echidnopsis sharpeiSN|30420]]SN|30420]] is a low growing perennial succulent with thin, finger-like stems that form mats as they tend to root along their entire length. The tiny velvety red or yellowish flowers occur in groups of 1 to 2, slightly below the tip and have some reddish hairs on their margins. Two subspecies are recognized by Bruyns (1988), the nominate form and subs. ciliata, but other authors think it best to treated the two as distinct species.

Distinguishing Characteristic

Corolla-lobes less than 3 times as long as broad at base

Flowers

In groups of 1 to 2, slightly below the tip of stems, on up to 1 mm long pedicels. Sepals 1-1.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate. Corolla rotate, 6-10(-15) mm across, shallowly campanulate to flat,exterior hairless, green to green spotted purple, interior velvety-bristly, dark maroon to wine red to purple, sometimes yellow or white, sparsely hairy with hairs to 1 mm. Tube very shallow, shortly campanulate, pentagonal, enclosing and laterally touching the side of staminal column. Lobes 3 - 6 mm long, less than 3 times as long as broad at base, ovate-triangular to ovate or triangular, margins strongly revolute, tips revolute and therefore blunt, outside glabrous, inside velvety-hairy. Hairs to 1 mm, white or red, sparse or more dense. Corona 2-2.5 mm across, roundish to deeply 5-sided, sessile. Outer lobes forming usually a deep cup with narrow expanse of tissue at mouth, ivory-coloured, or yellow, or dark red or white with red margins and reddish stripes, with, margin weakly dentate, with long white hairs on inner face (sometime on both surfaces). Inner lobes basally broad, apically narrowly triangular, extending horizontally from the inside wall of the cup, but usually not overtopping the anthers, with some erect dorsal hairs.

Stem

Cylindrical, up to 15 cm long, 6-15 mm thick (mostly about c. 8 mm), reclining, creeping to procumbent-erect, 8-10-angled, up to 15 cm long, thick, the angles with prominent tubercles. Tubercles rounded or in a variety of shapes.