Lapidaria

Compact, +/- stemless, dwarf, succulent perennials with 1-4 leaf pairs per main branch. Leaves in a rosette, short, trigonous, lower part produced like a chin, keel and edges obvious but not sharp, pale pinkish brown or whitish in colour; surface with a minutely rough texture; epidermal cells somewhat elevated, stomata and subsidiary cells sunken, outer epidermal wall with a thick crystal layer. Flowers solitary or up to 3 in succession, terminal, +/- 50 mm in diameter; borne on short, winged stalks; open during day. Sepals 6 -8, +/- equal. Petals 3-seriate, slightly connate at base, golden yellow. Stamens with filaments papillate at base; staminodes present. Nectary a low crenulate ring. Ovary flattish on top; placentas parietal; stigmas 6-8, subulate, recurving. Fruit a 6 -8-locular capsule, of Titanopsis type, flat with raised sutures; valves widely spreading or recurved when expanded; expanding keels contiguous towards base, diverging towards apex with broad, membranous margins; covering membranes present; closing bodies 0. Seeds small, pear-shaped, light brown. x = 9. F lowering in winter. D istinguishing characters: compact, stemless perennials with keeled leaves, often appearing somewhat shrunken; flowers yellow; pedicels winged.