''Acrodon caespitosus'', the Potberg tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa.

Description

This succulent plant forms big and low cushion-shaped shrubs.e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36 It is the biggest species in the genus, growing up to a height of with a diameter of . It has only a tap root, with no adventitious roots. The internodes are long, orange-yellow and spongy and have two prominent lateral folds. The triangular leaves are a deep green in colour, and are about long and broad and thick. Like with the plant, these are the biggest in the genus. There are three to twelve teeth on the keel and no teeth (or sometimes between one and three teeth) on the leaf margins. The leaf sheaths are persistent and turn black with age. Solitary flowers are borne on stems. The bracteoles reach the calyx and embrace the base of the flower. The calyx lobes are longer than the petals in younger flowers. The flower has a short cone morphology, similar to those of ''

Acrodon bellidiflorus ''Acrodon bellidiflorus'', the common tiptoothfig, is a mesemb species from South Africa. Description ''Acrodon bellidiflorus'' is a compact succulent perennial plant.e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity In ...

'' and ''

Acrodon subulatus ''Acrodon subulatus'', the Overberg tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa. Description ''Acrodon subulatus'' is a compact perennial succulent.e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. ...

''. The central cone has about 300 stamens with few or no filamentous staminodes. They have long basal papillae that point inwards and interweave to form a felt-like layer. The 45-55 petals are white or pink with a purple stripe and purple margins. The fruits are borne above the plant on stalks. The stalks bend upwards, allowing them to receive rainwater when they are open. The capsule, with a height and diameter of about and a top of , is the largest of the genus. The lens-shaped closing body splits with pressure. While the long stem holding the fruit may sway due to the pressure from raindrops, wind dispersal is unlikwly as the seeds sticl together when wet. The capsule closes again when dry, reopening upon the next rain event.

Distribution and habitat

''Acrodon caespitosus'' is endemic to the

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It grows near the mouth of the Breede River, near Swellendam. This area consists of shrubby coastal fynbos that receives rain all year round. It grows on limestone or in sandy patches.

Conservation

While the risk of extinction for this species has not officially been assessed, it is known that the species living in its habitat are threatened by invasive species, including '' Acacia cyclops'' and ''

Acacia longifolia ''Acacia longifolia'' is a species of ''Acacia'' native to southeastern Australia, from the extreme southeast of Queensland, eastern New South Wales, eastern and southern Victoria, and southeastern South Australia. Common names for it include lon ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17234837 Plants described in 2012 Endemic flora of the Cape Provinces