Description :

• Compact, dwarf perennials forming dense, low clumps, up to ± 300 mm high
• Leaves opposite, trigonous, united at bases, ± 50 mm long and 15 mm broad, flattish above, grey to blue-green, rarely dentate on keel and margins; epidermis with rounded papillae of different sizes, largest ones over subhypodermal tannin idioblasts
• Flowers terminal, solitary, ± 30 mm in diameter, on bibracteate pedicels ± 25 mm long; opening late in afternoon well into night, honey-scented
• Sepals 5, nearly equal, obtuse
• Petals 2- or 3-seriate, free, nearly as long as sepals, with reflexed tips, white to pink
• Stamens collected in a central cone; filaments hairy at base
• Nectary a crenulate ring
• Ovary depressed, with raised centre; nectar glands annular, crenulate; placentas parietal; stigmas 8-11(14), subulate, semipersistent, recurved
• Fruit a 8-11(14)-locular capsule, of Titanopsis type; closing bodies absent; valve wings present, large; expanding keels parallel, lacerate, ending in an awn; covering membranes present, covering two-thirds of locule, flattish, translucent
• Seeds pear-shaped, greyish brown

• Flowering all year round

• Distinguishing characters :
  • Perennials with smooth or slightly toothed, finely textured, grey-green leaves
  • Sepals 5 ( Juttadinteria has 4); pedicels bracteate
  • Flowers opening in the evening
  • Fruit with covering membranes

Nomenclature:

• Dracophilus (Schwantes) Dinter & Schwantes
  • Schwantes: 187 (1927)
  • Walgate: 171 (1939)
  • Herre: 140 (1971)
  • Smith et al.: 140 (1998)
• Juttadinteria subgen. Dracophilus Schwantes
  • Schwantes: 183 (1926)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Species 4, arid areas from Lüderitz in SW Namibia, southwards to the northern part of the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape