Delosperma leendertziae

Delosperma leendertziae, in Afrikaans known as the geel bergvygie (yellow mountain mesemb), is a succulent perennial that reaches only about 15 cm in height. This is one of the delospermas characterised by a mat-forming, ground covering growth habit. This compact plant spreads many trailing branches.

The opposite leaf-pairs are succulent, oblong and curving down towards their tips. They have rounded more than keeled lower surfaces and flat to channelled upper surfaces.

The species, a South African endemic, is found in nature in Gauteng and North West, also in the Magaliesberg.

The habitat is quartzitic grassland at altitudes around 1600 m, often on rocky ridges and steep, south-facing slopes. The habitat population is considered near threatened early in the twenty first century, due to soil erosion, invasion by alien vegetation and poor fire management (Smith, et al, 1998; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; https://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).