The succulent sesame plant is a small shrub that forms a thick trunk with a swollen basal structure called a caudex. They usually grow 3-5 meters (10-15 feet) tall (1,2). The stem are stout and, with age, become even thicker. The leaves have small hair structures are 12-15 cm (5-6 inches) long, with a long petiole and 3-5 lobes (1, 2). The flowers of this species are formed in clusters. They are zygomorphic, 5 cm (2 inches) across, a bright yellow color overall with a purplish-red color appearing in the throat of the bloom The succulent sesame has a very unique way of being pollinated. Usually, pollen is delivered to the ovule by pollen tubes that grow from the pollen grain, while this plant does not shed pollen from its anthers. Instead, it requires a pollen-eating beetle to enter the floral tube and bite into the stigma, causing a pollen-containing paste to be released onto the beetle (4). As the beetle moves from flower to flower pollen is transferred to the ovule of another plant, resulting in fruit development (1,4). The fruit is flat and covered in small inwardly pointed spines. These spines have a tiny hook on the end of each of them. Many people find the architect of the succulent sesame to be attractive (1,2).
