Glottiphyllum difforme

Glottiphyllum difforme produces a sprawling mass of comparatively thin, succulent, green leaves. The leaves often have characteristic knobs on the upper surface close to the tips, somewhat three-angled with keels. They may be prostrate, forming a mat or occasionally erect, alternating in size. Large colonies are sometimes seen.

The plant grows to about 15 cm and produces many-petalled yellow flowers. It retains the seed capsules for more than a season, as opposed to some other Glottiphyllum species that drop them early. 

The distribution is in the east of the Western Cape and the west of the Eastern Cape, in the Great Karoo and the Little Karoo.

The habitat is karoid conditions, growing in full sun or shaded under shrubs. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

Several Glottiphyllum species are commonly known in Afrikaans as skilpadkos (tortoise food) or volstruiskos (ostrich food), indicating the use they are made of, as well as risks from overgrazing and extended periods of drought.

In cultivation a Glottiphyllum plant may grow differently, not recognised to be the same as those battling in harsh climatic conditions. This has caused the species list of about 50 to be longer than what it probably should be (Frandsen, 2017; Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2000; Smith, et al, 1998; http://redlist.sanbi.org).