Description:

• Small perennial shrubs or climbers, prostrate or decumbent, with fibrous roots, rarely with fleshy rootstock; stems 4-angled or terete, weakly lignified, green and succulent with additional vascular bundles, epidermal bladder cells tall and closely packed
• Leaves decussate or occasionally becoming alternate in inflorescences, with or without petiole, flat or semicylindrical, heart-shaped, ovate or linear, papillose with loosely arranged bladder cells, rarely deciduous
• Flowers solitary or in few-flowered dichasia, pedicellate, 15-35 mm in diameter; open in daylight
• Sepals 4, 2 often larger, basally fused or free towards base
• Petals united at base into a short tube; white, pale pink, cream to yellowish, staminodes 0 or present
• Nectary consisting of 4 separate grooves
• Ovary conical above; placentas axile; stigmas 4, subulate, minute
• Fruit a 4-locular capsule, of Mesembryanthemum type, with or without valve wings; expanding keels extending to centre of fruit
• Seeds D-shaped, 1.3-1.5 mm long, rough, blackish brown
• x = 9

• Flowering spring, summer and autumn

• Distinguishing characters:
  • Green succulent stems with closely arranged bladder cell idioblasts
  • Seeds large and blackish brown

Nomenclature:

• Aptenia N.E.Br.
  • Brown: 412 (1925)
  • Herre: 78 (1971)
  • Bittrich: 5 (1986)
  • Smith et al.: 28 (1998)
  • Gerbaulet: 66 (2001)
• Platythyra N.E.Br.
  • Brown: 412 (1925)
  • Herre: 250 (1971)
• Litocarpus L.Bolus
  • Bolus: t. 261 (1927) name illegitimate

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa: Species 4, naturally in the summer-rainfall areas
  • Aptenia cordifolia (L.f.) Schwantes and A. lancifolia L.Bolus are frequently found in shady places on rocky outcrops in regions of higher rainfall
  • The natural distribution of A. cordifolia is unclear as it becomes easily established in areas beyond its natural distribution
  • Aptenia is used world-wide as an ornamental in suitable climates