Cylindrophyllum comptonii

Cylindrophyllum comptonii, commonly known in Afrikaans as the vingervygie (finger mesemb), is a robust, leaf succulent growing short branches forming a tuft.

The thickish, erect, terete (cylindrical) leaves taper to blunt, conical tips and curve in. Initially grey, the wax-covered leaves age to blackish green. The leaves become 10 cm long.

The fruit capsules have conical tops, comprising from five to eleven locules. The valve wings are awn-like and the expanding keels toothed. Closing membranes are present, the closing bodies small.

The species distribution is in the west of the Little Karoo and into the Great Karoo near Laingsburg.

The habitat is karoid scrub in stony clay soils on north-facing slopes. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Frandsen, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).