Greek drosos—dew, anthemon—flower, in reference to the glistening appearance of the flowers.
Succulent herbs with cylindrical, hairy, prostrate stems. Leaves opposite, clustered on short shoots, fused at the base, more or less cylindrical but wider above, waxy grey and surface with prominent swollen cells (papillae). Flowers solitary, terminal, stalked, on erect shoots. Sepals 5, with papillae; petals mostly purple or pink. Sterile petal-like stamens numerous, white. Stamens numerous. Styles 5. Ovary inferior with 5 chambers; ovule placentation parietal.
Seed or cuttings.
Leaf surfaces with prominent glistening papillae.
About 107 species from S Namibia, W, S and C Africa.
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.