Fockea sinuata small stem and leaves

These straight and narrow Fockea sinuata leaves were seen at Minwater near Oudtshoorn. Narrowly grooved or channelled on top, the decussate leaves have mostly regularly spaced dips in the two rows of ridges flanking the groove.

The specific name, sinuata, is derives from the Latin word sinuatum meaning to wind or curve, referring to these leaf edges, here minimally waving.

The delicate, erect stem belies the often big tuber, the underground caudex or valued food source that made hungry, bush-wise people and some animals of olden times excited when the leaves were spotted (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist; http://bihrmann.com; http://fresnocss.com; https://worldofsucculents.com).