Tetragonia nigrescens

Tetragonia nigrescens is a prostrate perennial growing branches 30 cm long but reaching heights to only about 10 cm. The plant grows from a spindle-shaped or cylindrical tuber.

The species distribution is in the western parts of the Western Cape and the Northern Cape provinces. The photo was taken in the south of Namaqualand near Vanrhynsdorp.

The plants grow coastally and inland on flats and slopes in sandy, loamy or clayey soils. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).