Curio articulatus, known in Afrikaans among other things as worsies (little sausages) and the sosatieplakkie, grows in the Little Karoo and southwards along the Gouritz River past the Langeberg Mountains into the semi-arid area near Mossel Bay; also eastwards into the Eastern Cape as far as Uitenhage.

Botanically the plant was previously called Senecio articulatus and Kleinia articulata over different periods.

The green succulent stem segments look like a string of little sausages or large beads, caused by the intermittent constrictions separating them. These grey-green stems have purplish markings resembling crow’s feet or M-shaped McDonald’s logos spread over them. On the next plant the markings may be different, even more prevalent or completely absent.

The stems branch, old plants becoming untidy clumps. Slightly succulent and lobed green leaves grow from nodes at stem segments and tips. The plant is deciduous in summer, a winter grower. Small white daisy flowers bloom in winter on long terminal (stem tip) stalks.

This plant is established in horticulture as a rockery and container item. Sections of the stems can be separated and planted as cuttings (www.mercurynews.com).