Description:

• Compact, dwarf, highly succulent perennials, occurring as single leaf pairs and forming small clumps with age
• Leaves opposite, young leaf pairs almost completely connate, forming obtusely rhomboid-ovoid, broadly keeled bodies, later splitting partly open to expose flattish upper leaf surfaces, one of the two leaves of a pair usually slightly larger than the other, usually as long as broad, roughly dotted, greyish green to reddish
• Flowers 1 or 2 (in extreme cases up to 9), arising in axils of lower leaves (side shoots) which gradually shrink as 2 foliaceous bracts and upper leaves enlarge, ± 40 mm in diameter; opening around noon and closing by evening
• Sepals 6, keeled, 2 larger than others
• Petals in several series, free, whitish to purple, darkest in centre or occasionally at tips
• Stamens papillate at base, with violet filaments; staminodes 0
• Nectary a crenate, dark brownish green ring
• Ovary convex above; placentas parietal; stigmas 6, subulate and somewhat plumose, shorter than stamens
• Fruit a 6-locular capsule, of Drosanthemum type; covering membranes present; closing bodies 0
• Seeds globose, yellowish brown
• x = 9 (1 report)

• Flowering in early summer

• Distinguishing characters:
  • Single-bodied or developing into small clumps
  • Producing 2 flowers simultaneously, one on each side of the leaf pair
  • Leaves keeled, waxy

Nomenclature:

• Didymaotus N.E.Br.
  • Brown: 433 (1925)
  • Herre: 130 (1971)
  • Smith et al.: 94 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa: Species 1: Didymaotus lapidiformis (Marloth) N.E.Br., Tanqua Karoo in the Western Cape with predominantly winter-rainfall