Greek delos—visible, sperma—seed, referring to the lidless capsules with seed visible.
Perennial herbs or occasionally shrubs covered with papillae, the internodes mostly visible between the leaves. Leaves opposite, more or less fused at their bases, flattened to cylindrical. Flowers solitary or in few-flowered clusters. Ovary inferior with 5 chambers; ovule placentation parietal.
A range of species may be encountered but the taxonomy of this genus is confused and identification difficult. D. cooperi (J.D. Hook.) Bolus from S Africa has purple flowers 3 cm or more wide.
Seed or cuttings.
Leaves rough with non-glistening papillae.
About 142 species from SE Africa to Arabia.
Source: (1997). Aizoaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
