Zygophyllum morgsana

Zygophyllum morgsana, in Afrikaans commonly known as slymbos (slime bush), is a dense, much-branched shrub reaching heights to about 1,5 m. When robust, it is green and succulent, while in difficult conditions, such as exposed to the elements here by the sea at Cape Agulhas, only a challenged shrublet.

The leaves are divided into two asymmetrical, oval leaflets, their margins entire. The short stalk or petiole is attached at the point where the leaflets join, so there are no petiolules on the leaflets. The leaflets are positioned at an angle opposite each other, somewhat like cymbals awaiting imminent use.

Z. morgsana is found on the west coast from the Northern Cape, the Little Karoo, the coastal southern Cape and into the Eastern Cape. Not a South African endemic as it also grows in Namibia.

The habitat is largely coastal, sandy or rocky flats and slopes, including limestone fynbos. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2009; http://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).