Drosanthemum micans

Drosanthemum micans is a rounded, much-branched, shrubby leaf succulent of the mesemb family reaching heights to 60 cm. The leaves are cylindrical with glistening surfaces becoming 2,5 cm long.

The many-petalled flowers are near white in the centre. The spreading petals in several rows are orange, yellow or red near their tips. The anthers are whitish, the short, sterile staminodes around the stamens black.

Flowering peaks in midspring to late spring. The photo was taken in October.

The species distribution is in the Western Cape from Worcester to the western part of the Little Karoo. This plant was seen west of Barrydale.

The habitat is renosterveld of the Robertson Karoo and dry fynbos in shale and loam soils. The species is considered to be endangered in its habitat early in the twenty first century, due to farming and other development (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).