Description:

• Shrublets up to ± 150 mm high
• Leaves more than 2 to a branch, some alternate, others opposite, semiterete or subtrigonous to ± terete, basally free but enveloping each other, forming a prominent sheath, with slightly xeromorphic bladder-cells
• Flowers terminal, solitary, ± 40 mm diameter, white to pale yellow
• Sepals 4 or 5, with 2 lobes foliaceous, others shorter and more membranous, united into a short tube above ovary
• Petals 2- or 3-seriate, linear, united into a short tube at base, white to pale yellow
• Stamens and staminodes many, erect; pollen punctate-foveolate, microspinulose
• Nectary a ring with ± entire rim
• Ovary conical with axile placentas
• Fruit a 4- or 5-locular capsule, of Mesembryanthemum type; expanding keels with a broad, inflexed or erect submembranous flap or wing on each side, locules mostly with 2 seeds only
• Seeds 2.2 mm long, light brown, almost smooth, epicuticular sculpture very finely verrucose

• Flowering in spring

• Distinguishing characters:
  • Leaves stem-clasping
  • Seeds large

Nomenclature:

• Aspazoma N.E.Br.
  • Brown: 413 (1925)
  • Herre: 86 (1971)
  • Bittrich: 5 (1986)
  • Smith et al.: 32 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa: Species 1: Aspazoma amplectens (L.Bolus) N.E.Br., confined to Namaqualand, including the Richtersveld in the Northern and Western Cape