Delosperma pondoense

Here is another of the more than 160 delospermas of the Aizoaceae family. They are spread over big parts of South African veld from the Cape Peninsula to the Limpopo River, Namibia, Zimbabwe and further north to Kenya, Ethiopia and beyond. Delosperma seed capsules have no covering membranes over the seeds. When the valves covering the capsules open, the seeds lie open, ready for dispersal. Delos, Greek for visible, and sperma (seed) represent this fact.

As can be seen in the picture taken at Kirstenbosch in November, Delosperma pondoense has pairs of ovate succulent green leaves, sparsely spread along rambling stems. The leaves are flattish, curved back with smooth edges and pointed tips. The flowers are purple with narrow petals recurving slightly at the tips. The central mass of stamens is compressed into an erect cone showing the white filaments and yellow anthers (Smith, et al, 1998).