Stapelia hirsuta var. tsomoensis is a stem succulent that clumps, growing to heights from 10 cm to 15 cm. The plant is distributed in a region of the Eastern Cape. The variety name, tsomoensis, is derived from Tsomo, a small Transkei town. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (White and Sloane, 1937; www.redlist.sanbi.org).