Frithia pulchra

{{Short description|Species of succulent}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Frithia pulchra10.jpg

|status = VU

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Pfab, M.F. (Gauteng Nature Conservation). |author2=Victor, J. |collaboration=National Botanical Institute |date=2003 |title=Frithia pulchra |volume=2003 |page=e.T44082A10849614 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2003.RLTS.T44082A10849614.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}

|genus = Frithia

|species = pulchra

|authority = N.E.Br.

}}

Frithia pulchra, the fairy elephant's feet, is a species of flowering plant in the fig{{Non breaking hyphen}}marigold family Aizoaceae, endemic to Gauteng Province, South Africa (where it is classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List). Its natural habitat is temperate grassland with high summer rainfall. A tiny stemless succulent growing to just {{convert| 10|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|20 |cm|in|abbr=on}} broad, it has bulbous oblong leaves with leaf windows at the tip; and magenta and white daisy-like flowers in summer.{{cite web | url= http://pza.sanbi.org/frithia-pulchra

| title = Frithia pulchra | publisher = SANBI PlantZAfrica.com | access-date = 27 February 2018}} During periods of drought it has the ability to shrink beneath the soil surface, thus avoiding excessive desiccation, but making it extremely difficult to find.

It is named for Frank Frith, a Johannesburg gardener who showed specimens to N.E. Brown, a botanist at Kew Gardens, while on a visit to London, UK, in 1925.{{cite web | url=https://worldofsucculents.com/how-to-grow-and-care-for-frithia/

| title = How to grow and care for Frithia | date = 10 August 2015 | publisher = World of Succulents | access-date = 27 February 2018}} The Latin specific epithet pulchra means "beautiful".{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1845337315 }}

It does not survive frosts, so in temperate areas it needs to be cultivated under glass. In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web

| url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/141421/i-Frithia-pulchra-i/Details

| title = RHS Plantfinder - Frithia pulchra | access-date=16 February 2018}}{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 39 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 27 February 2018}}