Cephalophyllum is a captivating genus of low-growing, mat-forming to trailing succulent plants in the Aizoaceae, the ice plant or vygie family. These hardy little jewels are strongly associated with the winter-rainfall regions of western South Africa and extend northwards into south-western Namibia, with many species adapted to open, stony, sandy, or renosterveld and fynbos habitats where rainfall is seasonal and drainage is sharp. The name Cephalophyllum comes from Greek words meaning “head” and “leaf”, referring to the compact, head-like clusters of succulent leaves produced by many species. In cultivation, the genus is loved for its neat creeping habit, drought tolerance, and brilliant daisy-like flowers, which may be yellow, red, orange, pink, purple or bicoloured depending on the species, often opening in the brighter part of the day to attract pollinators.

Cephalophyllum purpureo-album, synonymously known as Cephalophyllum aurantiacum, Cephalophyllum gracile, Cephalophyllum gracile var. longisepalum, Cephalophyllum littlewoodii, Cephalophyllum middlemostii, Cephalophyllum paucifolium, Cephalophyllum serrulatum, Cephalophyllum worcesterense or Mesembryanthemum purpureo-album, is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province. The plants form clumps up to 60 cm in diameter with more or less cylindrical, mostly dark green leaves, which are about 6 to 10 cm long and more slender than in other Cephalophyllums. From May through to September, they produce yellow or pale purple flowers up to 5 cm in diameter.