Sceletium

Decumbent or climbing perennials, rarely erect subshrubs; branches slender, basal ones often robust with age; bladder cells of stem and leaves conspicuous or inconspicuous. Leaves decussate or becoming alternate in inflorescence, shortly fused towards bases, flat, +/- succulent, apex recurved or incurved, veins lignified, dry leaves skeleton-like, persistent and enclosing young buds. Flowers in few-flowered dichasia, sometimes solitary, stalked or sessile, 20-40 mm in diameter. Sepals 4 or 5(6), persistent. Petals white, pale to bright yellow, pale pink, or pale salmon; sepals and petals shortly fused towards bases; rarely stamens and stigmas concealed by staminodes. Nectary consisting of 4 or 5 separate grooves. Ovary half-inferior; placentas axile; stigmas 4 or 5, acicular. Fruit a 4- or 5(6)-locular capsule, of Mesembryanthemum type; expanding keels extending to centre of fruit; valve wings present or 0; breaking off readily to be dispersed by wind as tumble fruit. Seeds D-shaped, to 2 mm long, black or brown, with distinct or indistinct crest, surface rough. F lowering autumn to early summer. D istinguishing characters: persistent dry leaves which become skeletonised with only veins persisting.