Hereroa aspera

Hereroa aspera, sometimes called the grit-tip nightfig, is a dwarf succulent that grows short, spreading branches and a dense tuft of erect, succulent leaf pairs. In flower the plant achieves heights around 8 cm. Aspera (Latin) means rough or hard, among other meanings unrelated to plants.

The paired, hairless, finger-like leaves curve in to their blunt tips; they are nearly cylindrical with just a suggestion of triangular shape in cross-section. Young leaves are pale blue-green, often with red tips, the older ones in the photo covered in black lichen.

The species distribution in the Western Cape is mainly in the Little Karoo and on the Langeberge near Swellendam. This plant was photographed near Oudtshoorn.

The habitat is southern slopes of fynbos and scrub in clay soils. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).