Salsola aphylla

Salsola aphylla, the gannabos, grows in the natural ditches of the dry land where the last, infrequent stormwater had passed, however long ago. And will pass again, but nobody knows when. The deep soil where these plants live, is for long periods totally dried out in the top metre or so, but from really deep down, where the heat and dry air do not reach, a little moisture allows life to continue. These plants can wait.

The gannabos of arid South Africa is deep-rooted, succulent-leaved and prepared for the predicted escalation of desert conditions in the South African west and Karoo scrub. These plants do not waste; evaporation from the small, thick, grey leaves is minimal. The hardship of many years is written on the bare stems. How old? Can it really have new growth among all that dead wood? Respect and admiration are earned (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).