Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Bababoudjies, Silver Stoneflower

Family: Aizoaceae (Vygie)

Distribution: Knersvlakte in Western Cape and Little Namaqualand in Northern Cape

Habitat: White quartz pebbles in Knersvlakte in Namaqualand

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Succulent plant

Comments: Grows in one of the strangest ecozones on earth, the quartz fields of coastal Namaqualand in South Africa. This region consists of extensive plains or gently rolling hills, completely covered in small (2 cm to fist sized) chunks of white quartz on top of rocky, saline soil. The Argyrodermas are partly hidden among the pure white quartzite pebbles, or cluster on top of it. In a good year, with enough winter rain to supplement the frequent fog that keeps the whole ecosystem functioning, Argyroderma patches are so dense that the ground appears blue rather than white, and it is impossible to walk without stepping on them.