Mesembryanthemum tenuiflorum

Mesembryanthemum tenuiflorum, in Afrikaans commonly known as the wortelvygie (root mesemb), and previously scientifically as Phyllobolus tenuiflorus, is a tuberous leaf succulent, a perennial that branches, reaching heights around 5 cm. The stems are woody, the internodes mostly short.

The species distribution is restricted in the far northwest of the Western Cape, particularly the Bokkeveld Plateau, the Knersvlakte, and slightly into the far southwest of the Northern Cape. The photo was taken near Nieuwoudtville.

The habitat is often gravelly clay in vygieveld, quartzite outcrops and dry fynbos. The habitat population is deemed vulnerable early in the twenty first century, due to gypsum mining (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Smith, et al, 1998; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist; https://www.llifle.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).