Huernia in grassland

Succulents that stay much smaller than the surrounding grasses are common in much of South African grassland territory. Several of the Huernia species, such as this blotched leaf specimen, count among these intriguing miniatures of the veld.

Although succulents are hardy against full sun, they thrive in the shade that comes and goes with the fortunes of the neighbouring grasses. Many perennial and few annual grass plants sprout, become grazed, trampled and burned around these succulents. All that lives here is subject to an open ended range of vicissitudes, good and bad luck events that test plant and animal inhabitants of the open plain grasslands.

Haworthia, Anacampseros, Aloe and Adromischus species are but a few among the hardy succulents that cohabit effectively with grass. And bring the excitement to diversity treasure hunts!