The spinescent ruschias form a distinctive group of five species in the large genus Ruschia (over 200 spp) and, indeed, in the entire Aizoaceae (over 1800 succulent spp). These have stout spines derived from persistent pedicels of the flowers and are often in intriguing cruciform or TV antenna-like arrangements. HBG 91562, seedlings ex J Trager (97-26), S Hammer & M Opel, collected 7 Aug 1997, on a rocky quartzitic slope in Namaqualand, Omega Farm, ca 20 km ENE of Springbok, N Cape, S Africa. $10.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 77 (2), March - April, 2005