Tromotriche baylissii

Tromotriche baylissii, in Afrikaans commonly known as westelike kransklokkies (western rock bells), is a clump-forming stem succulent. Its pendulous stems reach lengths of 15 to 25 cm, occasionally unusually long, to 90 cm.

The bell-shaped flowers have long, wide corolla tubes (or cups) ending in short triangular lobes with acutely pointed tips curving outwards slightly and ascending. The fleshy corolla is purplish-red or maroon inside, paler red on the outside. There are small transversal ridges or wrinkling inside the corolla cup, less on the lobes. Dark, club-shaped hairs are sparsely scattered along the corolla margins. Flowering happens in summer and early autumn.

The species distribution is limited to parts of the Little Karoo mountains, e.g. near Prince Albert and in the western part of the Eastern Province, notably near Humansdorp; maybe in the region between.

The plants grow in mountainous terrain among rocks on steep slopes, often hanging from cliffs. The plant is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

Once called Stapelianthus baylissii, the species also formed part of the Tridentea genus for a time (Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2006; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.redlist.sanbi.org).