Salsola aphylla, small plant, big past

Sometimes Salsola aphylla is just a shrublet as seen here. But often one that deserves respect and admiration, judged by the gnarled deadwood.

On first encountering one of these there is the urge to check whether the green leaves actually come from the desiccated stem, as no bark is visible on the stem at first glance. The realisation that there is nothing else growing here but the ancient gannabos inspires awe. These diehards are monuments to the will to live.

Just as well the old specimens show tenacity. Vlok and Schutte-Vlok (2010) tell us that few young gannabos plants are seen in the Little Karoo veld. One wonders about the situation in the rest of the natural distribution of the species.