Tylecodon grandiflorus stalk bracts but no stem leaves

The thick, short and bare stems of Tylecodon grandiflorus have no leaves at bloomtime in summer. Shrivelled leaf remains are, however, usually persistent. These are last winter’s leaves sprouted during the previous autumn. There are narrow, sterile bracts alternating up the long flower stalks.

The lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves of T. grandiflorus grow in stem-tip tufts. They are long and narrow. The thick, succulent blades are smooth and bright green, shallowly channelled on their upper surfaces. Leaf length is about 10 cm (Smith, et al, 2017; Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2006; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; iNaturalist).