Brownanthus

Decumbent to erect shrubs, 150-1000 mm high, with fibrous roots; stems (young) weakly lignified, articulate, green and succulent; epidermal bladder cells tall, closely packed; old stems woody. Leaves decussate, +/- terete, free or shortly fused towards bases, ephemeral, sometimes spinescent; bladder cells at base and edges often becoming hair-like. Flowers solitary or in dichasia, 5-25 mm diameter; open during daylight hours. Sepals 4 or 5, +/- equal, consistently erect during anthesis. Petals free towards bases, cream; staminodes 0. Nectary consisting of 4 or 5 separate grooves. Ovary with axile placentas; stigmas 4 or 5. Fruit a 4- or 5-locular capsule, of Mesembryanthemum type, rarely nut-like; expanding keels extending to centre of fruit; valve wings present; sometimes with a basal seed pocket, then expanding keels not separated by placenta. Seeds D- or pear-shaped, 1-1.3 mm long, surface mostly smooth, rarely rough, ochre or brown. x = 9 ( polyploidy). F lowering spring to early summer. D istinguishing characters: stems succulent, later becoming woody; different arrangements of bladder cell idioblasts on stems (closely packed) and leaves (loosely arranged); leaves free or shortly fused at the bases.