Bulbine mesembryanthemoides subsp. mesembryanthemoides, the waterglasie

This solitary Bulbine mesembryanthoides subsp. mesembryanthoides leaf, globular and translucent at the top like a glass marble, cylindrical if dug up and seen in total, enjoys a mossy covering of its surrounds. These are good times when adjacent vegetation protects the moisture in the soil and ample water is present to afford seasonal above-ground presence of the leaf.

Faint vertical lines can be seen running down the leaf surface of the waterglasie, as well as an opaque, whitish covering along its lower parts. Always an unusual sight and a pleasant surprise when encountered in the veld (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010)!