Trachyandra revoluta

Trachyandra revoluta, commonly known as fold Cape spinach and in Afrikaans as waterknolle (water rhizomes), is a geophytic perennial and leaf succulent reaching heights from 50 cm to 90 cm in its annual, above-ground parts. The short, thickened underground stem is usually curled.

The species distribution is from southern Namibia through Namaqualand to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards along the coast to East London in the Eastern Cape. The photo was taken north of Springbok on the way to Steinkopf.

The plants grow in several vegetation types in loam or sandy soils on coastal and inland flats and lower slopes that may be rocky, as among the Namaqua Klipkoppe. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).