Fenestraria

Appearance

The only species currently recognised in this genus is ''Fenestraria rhopalophylla''.
Each leaf has an epidermal window, a transparent window-like area, at its rounded tip, it is for these window-like structures that the genus is named .

''Fenestraria rhopalophylla'' appears very similar to ''Frithia pulchra'', though the leaves are a slightly different shape and ''F. rhopalophylla'' has yellow flowers, compared to the pink flowers of ''F. pulchra''.

Naming

* ''F. rhopalophylla'' subsp. ''rhopalophylla'' with white flowers in autumn
⤷  ''F. rhopalophylla'' subsp. ''aurantiaca'' with yellow flowers

The status of ''Fenestraria aurantiaca'' is under review to determine whether its proper status is that of a full species or a subspecies of ''Fenestraria rhopalophylla''.

Distribution

In the wild, the plant commonly grows under sand, except for the transparent tips, which allow light into the leaves for photosynthesis.
The plant produces optical fibers made from crystalline oxalic acid which transmit light to subterranean photosynthetic sites.

''Fenestraria rhopalophylla'' is native to Namaqualand in southern Africa and to Namibia. The plants generally grow in sandy or calciferous soils under low < 100&nbsp;mm rainfall, that occurs in the winter.

Habitat

In the wild, the plant commonly grows under sand, except for the transparent tips, which allow light into the leaves for photosynthesis.
The plant produces optical fibers made from crystalline oxalic acid which transmit light to subterranean photosynthetic sites.

''Fenestraria rhopalophylla'' is native to Namaqualand in southern Africa and to Namibia. The plants generally grow in sandy or calciferous soils under low < 100&nbsp;mm rainfall, that occurs in the winter.