Glottiphyllum linguiforme

Glottiphyllum linguiforme is a mat-forming leaf succulent growing distichous branches. 

The plant has tongue-shaped, flattish leaves, as the species name linguiforme, a Latin word indicates. The leaves point upwards and the flowers are typical yellow vygie-type flowers. They are covered by a waxy layer.

The Greek word glottis means the mouth of the windpipe, maybe referring to the uvula, while phyllon (Greek) means leaf, explaining the generic name. The plant is thus sometimes called the tongue leaf plant, although some other Glottiphyllum species also have this common name. 

The species distribution in the Western Cape is small, near Oudtshoorn and slightly in the southern Great Karoo near Laingsburg and Touws River. The plant is endemic to the eastern parts of the Little Karoo where ten of the sixteen Glottiphyllum species are found.

The habitat is karoid scrub and renosterveld. The species is considered to be vulnerable in its habitat early in the twenty first century, due to trampling, grazing from ostrich farming and soil erosion (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.zipcodezoo.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).