Echidnopsis dammanniana Sprenger   

DESCRIPTION: low clumping perennial succulent that spread over the ground forming cushions. This species has sturdy stems like those of Echidnopsis cereiformis, but up to 2 cm in diameter with characteristic, maroon-brown, speckled flowers somewhat flattened against the stem. E. dammanniana differs from Echidnopsis cereiformis by it shiny black-purple, sometimes speckled yellowish corona. Stems are procumbent, rigid, with clear latex, usually 5-15 (often up to 60) cm long, 12-20 mm thick, divided into 8-10 tessellate ribs, with tetragonal or hexagonal irregular mammillae, dull greyish to purplish-green or brownish, glabrous, finely papillose and faintly wrinkled.

DISTRIBUTION: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya