Gibbaeum heathii new leaves in old ones

The baby bum name of Gibbaeum heathii is very apt during certain phases of the plant’s annual growth. Newly grown leaf-pairs from the midst of the old ones represent promise, the surrounding old ones represent protective service that sustains the plant until replaced by another generation of leaves following the same cycle.

Flowering is only beginning here.

Next to the live branches some heavily wrinkled, white remains of dead ones persist while life goes on where it can (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).