Flora of Somalia 1:112

Plants annuals or short-lived perennials, herbaceous to somewhat woody. Stems prostrate, somewhat zigzag, pilose, finely papillose. Leaves alternate, flat on the ground; petioles 3-16 mm long; blades to 4 cm long and 4 cm wide, suborbicular to obovate, bases decurrent, tips rounded to bluntly subacuminate, both surfaces pilose. Inflorescences of solitary, axillary flowers. Flowers sessile, radially symmetric, (4)5-merous, about 3 mm across, with a hypanthium, perigynous or ovary inferior,  tepals yellowish inside, reddish or greenish and pilose outside; stamens 12-15, in groups, groups alternating with the tepals; styles short, soon lost. Fruits loculicidal capsules, (4)5-sided, 5-8 mm in diameter; seeds many, reniform, concentrically ridged.

Geographic Distribution: From the islands off the west coast of North Africa, to the eastern seaboard and across the Arabian peninsula to Pakistan and south to South Africa and Namibia. The description in the Flora of Pakistan suggests that Pakistani plants may represent a different subspecies. The species is described there as woody and perennial. 

Ecology: Aizoon canariense grows in sandy, semi-desert to desert areas across Africa and in coastal areas, areas, in both undisturbed and disturbed areas [Information from F. Graham IV].

Mary E. Barkworth

Habit: prostrate, succulent herbs with zig-zagging branches up to 20 cm long radiating out from the centre.

Leaves: alternate, entire, almost round, oval, bright green, up to 4 cm long 

Flowers: solitary, axillary, about 3 mm across, yellowish, radially symmetric, hairy.

Fruits: star-shaped red capsules with many kidney-shaped seeds.

Habitat: sandy, semi-desert to deset areas. in both disturbed and undisturbed areas.