Conophytum truncatum subsp. truncatum dealing with sunshine

Unlike some Conophytum plants, Conophytum truncatum subsp. truncatum may produce many leaf pairs densely clustered in one big mound.

The leaves in shade show dark leaf spots. The spots are translucent windows allowing sunlight to enter. Thus invited into a succulent leaf, sunlight facilitates photosynthesis in cells deep inside the body of the leaf, rather than on leaf surface cells.

The reddish, acutely pointed sepals at each flower base in picture bring the flower more colour than the pale cream or yellow of the petals. The hair-like petals are partly united near the base (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot; www.plantzafrica.com).