Sometimes Salsola aphylla is just a shrublet as seen here. But often one that deserves admiration, judged by the old gnarled stem appearing like deadwood here. The first time one sees a plant like this there is the urge to check whether the green leaves actually come from this desiccated stem, as no bark is visible on the stem at first glance. Respect comes from the realisation that there is nothing else growing here but this ancient gannabos. These diehards are monuments to the will to live.

Just as well the old specimens show tenacity. Vlok and Schutte-Vlok (2010) tell us that few young gannabos plants are seen in the Little Karoo veld. One wonders about the situation in the rest of the natural distribution of the species.