Open, mat-forming shrublet up to 20cm spreading to 50cm across or more, not rooting at the nodes. Hard, fleshy leaves, 20-35mm x 4mm are joined to form a slight sleeve at the base; flowers pink up to 22m across, outer petals have a central dark stripe and the paler inner petals and stamens form a cone in the centre.

Fruits 5-locular.

After: Dr Peter MacOwan (1830-1909), one of the first professors of botany in Cape Town, Director of Cape Town Botanic Gardens, an enormously productive plant collector.