Conicosia pugioniformis is a short-lived perennial with a strong taproot, swollen into an underground caudex from which it can resprout. The trailing branches have erect fleshy three-angled leaves that suggest its Afrikaans name varkslaai (pig salad). The yellow flowers with their many rows of fine petals open in the afternoon.

The plant belongs to the Aizoaceae family and is found in nature from Namaqualand along the southern coast on sandy flats to the Eastern Cape (www.plants.usda; Wikipedia).