Mesembs is a common popular term used for succulent members of the family Aizoaceae, which are often placed in a separate family of their own, Mesembryanthemaceae. They are sometimes also referred to as vygies, fig-marigolds, ice plants, midday flowers, living stones or flowering stones. They display remarkable variation in leaf architecture, flower colour and form as well as fruit structure. Therefore these plants fascinate many plant lovers of all ages and have become popular amongst collectors of succulent plants. They make excellent potted plants. Cylindrophyllum is derived from the Greek words, kylistos, which means cylindrical, and phyllon meaning leaf, referring to the cylindrical leaves. Cylindrophyllum is a small but poorly known South African endemic genus containing 5 or 6 species.

Cylindrophyllum comptonii is a tough, mat-forming, cushion-like, succulent plant that thrives in nutrient-poor soils. With its finger-like leaves, this succulent will provide a unique texture to any landscape design and is an excellent drought tolerant species for rockery plantings. Cylindrophyllum comptonii is a robust, clump-forming, succulent perennial and has a fibrous root system for quick absorption of water. The cylindrical, grey-green leaves are loosely arranged and up to 10cm long. Cylindrophyllum comptonii can grow up to 25cm in diameter and has very short stems. The single, white to straw-coloured flowers bloom from spring to early summer and can be up to 4cm in diameter. Flowers usually open at noon and close in the evening.