These tiny globular buds of Gloveria integrifolia were seen at the end of winter near Oudtshoorn. The plant is normally expected to flower in summer. The inflorescence is cyme-shaped, the stalks purple and the buds at this stage greenish grey.

The smooth appearance of the leaf, hiding signs of veins or midrib, is clearly displayed. The small spur-branches ending in tapering spines hold a promise of defensive effectiveness about them. Lenticels can be discerned on the stems (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).