Antegibbaeum

Dense, tufted, dwarf perennials; branches erect to prostrate, up to 100 mm long, radiating from a small woody stem. Leaves +/- digitiform, one slightly anisomorphic leaf pair per branch; upper surface flat or slightly convex; lower surface rounded and compressed towards obtuse apex; grey-green or somewhat reddish, smooth or slightly rugose. Flowers on short pedicels, 60 mm in diameter; with 2 pairs of bracts below flowers and fruit (unlike Gibbaeum); opening from midday until evening. Sepals 6, unequal, 2 lateral the longest, often keeled and with membranous margins. Petals 1-3-seriate, free, linear, often flaccid, violet-red. Stamens bearded at base; staminodes present or 0. Nectary a crenulate ring (unlike Gibbaeum). Ovary often raised above body of receptacle; placentas parietal; stigmas 6, stout, subulate, plumose. Fruit a 6-locular capsule, of Lampranthus type, shortly conical to convex, with prominent sutures; valve wings broad; covering membranes present; closing bodies 0. Seeds echinate, brown. x = 9 (1 report). F lowering late winter to early spring. D istinguishing characters: large magenta flowers (60 mm diameter), pedicel with 2 pairs of bracts; nectary annular; seeds echinate.