Description:

• Dense, tufted, dwarf perennials; branches erect to prostrate, up to 100 mm long, radiating from a small woody stem
• Leaves ± digitiform, one slightly anisomorphic leaf pair per branch; upper surface flat or slightly convex; lower surface rounded and compressed towards obtuse apex; grey-green or somewhat reddish, smooth or slightly rugose
• Flowers on short pedicels, 60 mm in diameter; with 2 pairs of bracts below flowers and fruit (unlike Gibbaeum); opening from midday until evening
• Sepals 6, unequal, 2 lateral the longest, often keeled and with membranous margins
• Petals 1-3-seriate, free, linear, often flaccid, violet-red
• Stamens bearded at base; staminodes present or 0
• Nectary a crenulate ring (unlike Gibbaeum)
• Ovary often raised above body of receptacle; placentas parietal; stigmas 6, stout, subulate, plumose
• Fruit a 6-locular capsule, of Lampranthus type, shortly conical to convex, with prominent sutures; valve wings broad; covering membranes present; closing bodies 0
• Seeds echinate, brown
• x = 9 (1 report)

• Flowering late winter to early spring

• Distinguishing characters:
  • Large magenta flowers (60 mm diameter), pedicel with 2 pairs of bracts
  • Nectary annular
  • Seeds echinate

Nomenclature:

• Antegibbaeum Schwantes ex C.Weber
  • Weber: 9 (1968)
  • Herre: 74 (1971)
  • Smith et al.: 134 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa: Species 1: Antegibbaeum fissoides (Haw.) Schwantes ex C.Weber., restricted to the semi-arid Little Karoo in the Western Cape