Anacampseros retusa Poelln. f. parva G.Will.
Appendix II Indigenous Endemic

Morphological description

Plant succulent, extreme miniature, 14-25 mm across with tubers ca. 12 x 4 mm. Leaves often elongated with greenish base up to 6-8 mm long and apices orange to dark brown-maroon about 2-3 mm broad often not above soil surface. Flowers up to 8-10 mm across. The seed capsules are small and about 6 mm long. Seeds are typical of Anacampseros retusa. From: Williamson, G. 2003. Notes on Anacampseros retusa Poelln. (Portulacaceae) with descriptions of two new forms and one subspecies. Excelsa 20: 27-33. [All rights reserved]

Diagnostic description

The plant tubers lie on the basal rock under the sand. In very shallow pans the tubers are horizontal while in deeper pans the tubers produce thickish main stems and thick branches. The leaves are three to four times as long as the apical surfaces and lie completely under the sand crust with the retuse apices at soil level. Where the pan is very shallow or in rock cracks there is no room for underground largish tubers or elongated leaves and the plants clump above ground and have spreading roots. Often plants are only visible due to flowering stems. After four years in hort. the plants have grown slightly but maintain their miniature size and underground habit. The leaf and seed morphology are typical of Anacampseros retusa. From: Williamson, G. 2003. Notes on Anacampseros retusa Poelln. (Portulacaceae) with descriptions of two new forms and one subspecies. Excelsa 20: 27-33. [All rights reserved]

Habitat

The habitat of this form of Anacampseros retusa is of extreme interest. The plants grow in full sun in very shallow, pure sand pans and occasionally in rock cracks. The geology consists of eroded, sculptured Table Mountain Sandstone. The pans are filled with pure white sand derived from the surrounding rocks. A further interesting feature is that the sand has a tight crust. It would seem that when the flooded pans dry out, dissolved elements form a surface crust. There is no evidence as to exactly what the function of this soil intrusion is. Perhaps it is hygroscopic and collects early morning moisture and later acts as a protection from the sun’s burning rays. The white sand pans reflect light during the heat of day when the surrounding rocks are too hot to touch. Winter temperatures drop to frost level. From: Williamson, G. 2003. Notes on Anacampseros retusa Poelln. (Portulacaceae) with descriptions of two new forms and one subspecies. Excelsa 20: 27-33. [All rights reserved]

Distribution

Republ. of S. Africa, Western Cape Province, Swartruggensberg, west of Skitterykloof. From: Williamson, G. 2003. Notes on Anacampseros retusa Poelln. (Portulacaceae) with descriptions of two new forms and one subspecies. Excelsa 20: 27-33. [All rights reserved]

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

Residence status

Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature

FSA

SA

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

WC

EC

NC

FS

GA

KZN

LP

MP

NW

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

Names and Sources

Accepted name
Anacampseros retusa Poelln. f. parva G.Will.

Published in: Excelsa 20: 29 (2003)

Synonym(s)

Classification

KINGDOM Plantae

SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae

SPECIES retusa

FORMA parva

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Specimen records

Barcode: NBG1570276-0 Collector(s) & number: sin. coll., SH0097 | 2021-2-16

South Africa, Western Cape, SA West Coast DC. Graafwater. Hawerland Farm. Ponds. Jakkalsvlei Rd.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Plant occurence records per dataset

Plant occurence records per year

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

2003

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

Notes on Anacampseros retusa Poelln. (Portulacaceae) with descriptions of two new forms and one subspecies Williamson, G

Excelsa 20: 27-33

1997

BOOK

List of southern African succulent plants Smith, GF

Umdaus Press, Pretoria

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Part(s) of plant used Use(s) Reference

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