Didymaotus

Compact, dwarf, highly succulent perennials, occurring as single leaf pairs and forming small clumps with age. Leaves opposite, young leaf pairs almost completely connate, forming obtusely rhomboid-ovoid, broadly keeled bodies, later splitting partly open to expose flattish upper leaf surfaces, one of the two leaves of a pair usually slightly larger than the other, usually as long as broad, roughly dotted, greyish green to reddish. Flowers 1 or 2 (in extreme cases up to 9), arising in axils of lower leaves (side shoots) which gradually shrink as 2 foliaceous bracts and upper leaves enlarge, +/- 40 mm in diameter; opening around noon and closing by evening. Sepals 6, keeled, 2 larger than others. Petals in several series, free, whitish to purple, darkest in centre or occasionally at tips. Stamens papillate at base, with violet filaments; staminodes 0. Nectary a crenate, dark brownish green ring. Ovary convex above; placentas parietal; stigmas 6, subulate and somewhat plumose, shorter than stamens. Fruit a 6-locular capsule, of Drosanthemum type; covering membranes present; closing bodies 0. Seeds globose, yellowish brown. x = 9 (1 report). F lowering in early summer. D istinguishing characters: single-bodied or developing into small clumps; producing 2 flowers simultaneously, one on each side of the leaf pair; leaves keeled, waxy.