Xerophyte

Leaves

Rudimentary to 1.2 mm long, stout, lanceolate-triangular.

Description

Echidnopsis sharpeiSN|30423]]SN|30420]] subs. ciliata (formerly Echidnopsis ciliataSN|30422]]SN|30425]]) is a perennial succulent with reclining, creeping, few-branched stems. Flowers appear singly or in twos, between the ribs, and are ca. 1 cm in diameter, with a short, bell-shaped tube and spreading corolla lobes that are uniformly deep purple on the upper side, with short papillae, and with cilia (hairs) on the margin.

Flowers

Flowers appear singly or in twos, between the ribs, on about 3 mm long pedicels. Corolla outside green, spotted with purple, inside densely hairy dark purple, 12-15 mm in diameter, tube broadly campanulate, not adpressed to side of staminal column. Corolla-lobes lobes triangular, 5-6 long, 5 mm broad. Corona, cup-shaped, pentagonal,with 5 rounded outer lobes, with dark purple-brown rim and white base. Inner corona-lobes broadly linear, basally white, reddish above, margins purplish-black. Outer corona-lobes reddish with rounded tips not reaching the centre of the staminal column.

Stem

Elongated, creeping or reclining, up to 20 cm long, 6–8 mm thick. Podaria slightly longer than broad, arranged in 8 ribs bearing the scars of the tiny, soon-falling blades in the upper part.