Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Desert

Range

Southern Africa

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Rare

About

A trailing succulent vine native to the dry cliffs of southwest Africa, where its spherical, pea-sized leaves store water and reduce sun exposure through translucent "windows" on each bead. Each perfectly round leaf evolved its shape to minimize surface area and slow water loss in harsh, arid conditions.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

• Read on Wikipedia →
• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Asterales

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Curio

Species

Curio rowleyanus