Duvalia

Dwarf, succulent, leafless perennials, decumbent to erect; occasionally rhizomatous. Stems 4-6-angled, glabrous, fleshy; angles tubercled with rudimentary leaves from centre of tubercle and minute glandular stipules on each side of base of rudimentary leaves. Flowers on rudimentary peduncles; 1 or more opening together or in succession, mainly in lower half of stem. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, sometimes with scales within base. Corolla raised into a cushion-like, fleshy, circular to pentagonal annulus in centre, lobes spreading, +/- lanceolate, usually with strongly replicate margins, sometimes ciliate with fixed or vibratile hairs. Corona 2-seriate, arising from near top of staminal column; outer corona hidden by or sometimes hiding annulus, flat and disc-like, or occasionally slightly 5(or 10)-angled, with or without hairs or papillae; inner corona of 5 +/- turgid lobes, with swollen bases and inner face somewhat incumbent on anthers and rising symmetrically around centre of staminal column. Anthers 2-locular, +/- horizontal on top of style head, without apical appendage. Pollinia +/- ellipsoid with pellucid inner margin. Follicles erect, terete-fusiform, glabrous, smooth. Seeds with apical tuft of hairs. x = 11 (aneuploids, polyploidy).