Zeuktophyllum suppositum

Zeuktophyllum suppositum, sometimes commonly in Afrikaans spookvygie (ghost mesemb), is a robust, low growing to spreading shrublet that may reach about 20 cm in height. The roots are fibrous, the stems woody.

The solitary white to creamy white flowers are borne on short stalks at stem-tips, sometimes possibly with some pink. There are six sepals and numerous filamentous staminodes with the stamens. The nectar glands form a ring in the flower base.

The flower diameter is about 10 mm, but the flowers never open fully, doing so partially in the morning and closing before dark. Flowering happens from before midsummer to early autumn.

The flat-topped, woody fruit capsules have ten locules. There are expanding keels ending in stiff wings, as well as covering membranes over the chambers, but no closing bodies. The seeds are smooth.

The species distribution is restricted to the western Little Karoo from Barrydale to Calitzdorp. The photo was taken near Vanwyksdorp.

The habitat is arid and semi-arid lower slopes, flats and ridges where the soils are clayey or gravelly to quartzitic. The species is considered endangered in habitat early in the twenty first century, due to habitat degradation from overgrazing, road construction and plant collecting (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; https://www.worldfloraonline.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).