Oophytum

Dwarf, compact, heterophyllous perennials less than 25 mm high. Leaves opposite, largely connate and united into small ovoid bodies with a somewhat gaping fissure, with visible bladder cell idioblasts on surfaces, bright brownish red towards end of growing season, otherwise dark green to brownish green or yellowish green; gradually absorbed by following leaf pair and leaving whitish sheath; two leaf pairs develop per season on each of up to 20 branches per individual. Flowers solitary, with bracts exserted from orifice, +/- 25 mm in diameter; opening midday, closing in evening. Sepals 6(7), shortly tubular. Petals 2- or 3-seriate, white, pink or pale violet. Stamens with filaments papillate at base, white, pink or pale violet; staminodes present, coloured as petals. Nectary a crenulate ring. Ovary somewhat convex with (5)6 ridges on top; placentas basal/parietal; stigmas (5)6, filiform. Fruit a (5)6-locular capsule, of Delosperma type; developing directly on top of drying plant body; valve wings broad; covering membranes rarely present as narrow rims over locules; closing bodies 0. Seeds many in each locule, small, compressed. x = 9. F lowering in winter. D istinguishing characters: stemless perennials, with clusters of ovoid, papillate leaves; old leaves forming papery sheaths enclosing the emerging young leaf pair.