Larryleachia marlothii flowering lying down

This reclining Larryleachia marlothii stem displays the flowering capacity of the plant. The flourish of five-pointed stars is spectacular seen close-up.

This type of succulent is not what the multitudes of spring flower tourists focus on when visiting Namaqualand. They will also miss these flowers that only open by summertime, when the excitement of the flower feast of late winter and spring is long over for many species as well as their admirers.

The open flowers and buds of L. marlothii show different forms of the five-pointed symmetry characterising blooms of the species (and genus).

The pale stem tubercles, not quite covered by the abundance of flowers and therefore visible in the photo, are bulging and succulent. In Larryleachia the stem tubercle is not as regular in its shape as flower or bud (White and Sloane, 1937; iSpot; www.llifle.com).