Nelia

Dwarf, tufted, +/- stemless perennials; with fibrous roots. Leaves opposite, +/- free, trigonous, elongate, apically rounded, greyish to light green; epidermis +/- smooth, with a thick crystal layer in outer wall, stomata at base of slightly elevated subsidiary cells. Flowers 1 -3, often in ternate dichasia, shortly pedunculate, bibracteate (laterals also), +/- 20 mm in diameter; opening for first time in morning and remaining open continuously for +/- 3 weeks. Sepals 5, unequal, shortly connate above ovary. Petals in several series, linear-spatulate, often shorter than sepals, emarginate, relatively stiff with short hairs at base, white, rarely pale pink; passing into white staminodes and stamens, and all fused into a short tube or hypanthium. Stamens and staminodes stiff, remaining in that position during entire anthesis. Nectary obscure. Ovary flattish or slightly convex; placentas basal; stigmas 5, small, broadly 3-angled, green. Fruit a 5-locular capsule, of Delosperma type, but expanding keels parallel, stout, yellow, diverging distally; covering membranes vestigial, developed as rather broad rectangular rims of septa; sutures slightly raised in centre; valves recurved when expanded; valve wings broad; closing devices 0. Seeds +/- 1 mm long, somewhat pear-shaped to cordate, light yellow, minutely textured. F lowering sporadically over a long period during winter months. D istinguishing characters: compact, clump-forming perennials; leaves smooth; petals stiff; flowers, once open, do not close again.