Huernia thuretii pale stems

Huernia thuretii, in Afrikaans commonly known as bitterghaap, has acutely four- to five-angled stems, growing to heights between 3 cm and 5 cm. They are hairless and blue-green to pale green, the young stems dark green, while stressed ones turn purple. The stems in picture taper to the top like elongated pyramids.

The longitudinal stem ridges have regularly spaced, small, white teeth. These teeth are deltoid to nearly conical in shape, sometimes curved down, but all acutely pointed, soft and white when dried out.

Branching at the base brings about the clumps of erect, stubby stems as in the photo (White and Sloane, 1937; Gledhill, 1981; http://worldofsucculents.com).