Cylindrophyllum

Tufted perennials up to 180 mm high, with short branches, often forming large cushions; stems woody with age, but internodes hidden, procumbent to ascending. Leaves opposite, connate at base, cylindric or terete, up to +/- 100 mm long, 8 mm in diameter, grey-green, often reddish, finely dotted, fairly crowded, old leaves persistent; epidermis with elongate elevations of several cell rows, stomata in valleys, outer epidermal walls very thick and layered, thick waxy layer on epidermis. Flowers solitary, terminal, shortly pedicellate, ebracteate, +/- 70 mm in diameter; opening at noon, closing by evening. Sepals 5, 3 larger than others and keeled. Petals short, in several series, whitish to yellow or pinkish, often with darker colours in centre. Stamens in several series, epapillate. Staminodes conically collected, orange or reddish. Nectary a crenulate ring. Ovary fairly sharply conical on top; placentas parietal; stigmas 5-11, subulate, much shorter than stamens. Fruit a 5-11 locular capsule; of firm consistency, locules deep, and placenta parietal as in Ruschia type; with long, narrow, awn-like valve wings (not awn-like in C. tugwelliae L.Bolus); expanding keels toothed, parallel; covering membranes present; closing bodies small. Seeds orbicular, tessellate, dark brown. x = 9. F lowering from spring to early summer. D istinguishing characters: tufted perennials, with cylindrical leaves; flowers large, yellowish with many stamens; fruit with toothed parallel expanding keels and long, awn-like valve wings; placentation partially axile.