Description :

• Dwarf, compact, tufted to densely shortly branched perennials, rarely sunken, slightly anisophyllous
• Leaves opposite, connate at base, thick and firmly fleshy, triangular-boat-shaped, flat to concave above, rounded below; surface bright green to purple, smooth; outer epidermal walls without crystals
• Flowers solitary, shortly pedicellate, bracteate; opening in afternoon, closing by evening, highly scented
• Sepals 4 or 5
• Petals free, slender, yellow
• Stamens papillate at base
• Nectary a dark green to yellow, regularly crenate ring
• Ovary with parietal placentas; stigmas 9 or 10, thread-like
• Fruit a 9- or 10-locular capsule, of Titanopsis type; convex on top; expanding keels parallel, diverging at tips, ending in aristate valve wings; covering membranes present; closing bodies tiny, endocarpal

• Flowering in autumn

• Distinguishing characters :
  • Compact perennials with smooth, unkeeled leaves
  • Fruit 10-locular with tiny closing bodies

Nomenclature:

• Tanquana H.E.K.Hartmann & Liede
  • Hartmann & Liede: 479 (1986)
  • Smith et al.: 128 (1998)
• Pleiospilos N.E.Br. in part

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Species 3, occurs in the central part of the Western Cape, it grows in the arid Tanqua Karoo and southwestern Great Karoo, just entering the Little Karoo south of Laingsburg