A small, new stem has emerged at the base of this Hoodia pilifera subsp. pilifera plant. The branching occurs below-ground or about at ground level.
A few stems may grow tall by themselves with little change in the clump for a long time, until conditions are favourable for an addition like this (Frandsen, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist).