Mesembryanthemum cauliferum

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Mesembryanthemum cauliferum (N.E.Br.) hort.
ex Hand-List Tender Dicot. & Gnetac. Roy. Bot. Gard. Kew ed. 2, 127 (1931). Notes: Conophytum cauliferum
Family: AIZOACEAE

= Conophytum cauliferum N.E.Br.
Gard. Chron. 1922. Ser. III. lxxii. 84.

Accepted Scientific Name: Conophytum bilobum (Marloth) N.E.Br.
Gard. Chron. 1922, Ser. III. lxxii. 83.

Origin and Habitat: It is found in the western part of South Africa (Northern Cape, from Wallekraal in the Sandveld to Swartpoort near the Orange River and Little Namaqualand)
Habitat: Growing in a well drained soil with some water in winter and some sun.

Synonyms:

Conophytum cauliferum N.E.Br.

Derenbergia caulifera (N.E.Br.) Schwantes
Mesembryanthemum cauliferum (N.E.Br.) hort.

See all synonyms of Conophytum bilobum

Description: Robust caespitose (groundcover) plant, stemless or with short stems with time.
Bodies (paired leaves): Thickness: 3 centimetres Height: 7 centimetres, Profile: The leaf-tips (lobes) are free and are 10 mm long and triangular in shape and keeled. Colours: The margins are green to red or deep purple in colour. The epidermis is glabrous to velvety or quite asperulous, it is whitish-green to glaucous to deep blue green or brownish pink in colour. The epidermis could be heavily spotted or completey smooth.
Flowers: Scentless up to 3 cm (The largest of the genus)
Blooming season: The flowers are autumnal (rarely in summer) and diurnal.
Remarks: This plant is one of the most widespread and morphologically variable taxon of the genus. Many of its morphological and geographical variant was early classified as different independent species, but nowadays all this plant are considered part of a multiform species, where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics.

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Notes: Plants of the genus Conophytum are also known as 'living pebbles'. During the rest period (the summer months in Europe) a new body forms inside the old, gradually taking all the substances from it until all that remains is the skin, which dries and protects the young plant from the heat of the sun and excess evaporation of water. The resting Conophytum protected by this dry cover resembles a pebble and hence the name 'living pebble'. The growth period of most species is from August to March. The temperature should be about 10 to 12°C.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is easy to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy. They require little water; otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, (only when the plant starts shrivelling), but it will generally grow even in summer if given water. Water regularly in winter after the previous year's leaves have dried up. Requires good drainage. Keep cool and shaded in summer, it needs full sun or light shade. Hardy to -2°C. Ensure a very good ventilation. Avoid to repot frequently. This plant may stay in the same pot for many years.

Propagation:: It can be reproduced both by cuttings and seeds. Take the cutting from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root.

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Cite this page: "Mesembryanthemum cauliferum" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 03 Apr 2025. </Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Aizoaceae/1212/Mesembryanthemum_cauliferum>