The globular leaf-pair of Dinteranthus microspermus subsp. puberulus has a fissure in its upper part from where the flower buds can be seen to have developed.

Another species, D. pole-evansii, is known as the vegetable golf ball; a name that would not be out of place for this plant as well. The leaf surface here is pale pink-grey or darkly so, with scattered purple spots. The leaf lobes are obliquely keeled near the top (Smith, et al, 1998).