Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Family: Aizoaceae (Vygie)

Distribution: Namaqualand to Uniondale, Karoo, and Eastern Cape

Habitat: Fynbos

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: Although indigenous to southern Africa, kraalbos is often an indicator of overgrazed veld. Livestock will graze on other plants while avoiding this unpalatable shrub, leaving behind large kraalbos stands at the expense of grasses and geophytes in overgrazed renosterveld. It is used in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, and this use has recently received biochemical support by preliminary studies.