The succulent plants of this genus have long been known as an additive to alcoholic fermentations, making them extra potent. It is the thick underground roots that are added to the brews. The plants make attractive rockery subjects, forming low, dense clumps with showy flowers. This mesemb genus comprising six species is confined to grassland or open woodla nd of the northern provinces of South Africa. This is unusual, as most other mesemb genera are found further south, the highest diversity being in the Succulent Karoo. Khadias are not very popular as garden plants. They have been used traditionally as a fermentation agent, but traditional brews containing these plants are becoming increasingly scarce.

Khadia acutipetala is commonly known as Khadi and Khadiwortel. It is a South African endemic species from the Gauteng and North West Provinces. It is synonymously known as Khadia nationae, Mesembryanthemum acutipetalum and Mesembryanthemum nationae. Khadia acutipetala has compact clusters of keeled leaves. This species is edible! During summer it bears dark pink/magenta/shiny plum-colour flowers.