Tylecodon nolteei Photo by: © Plantemania
Origin and Habitat: Tylecodon nolteeiSN|35310]]SN|35310]] is endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa (Range: Nuwerus). It is known from two locations.
Altitude range: 50-1200 metres above sea level.
Habitat and ecology: Succulent Karoo. Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld, Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland. This species grows in rock crevices on sandstone, quartzite or shale cliffs. It is a summer-flowering species. This species is potentially threatened by infrastructure development and harvesting for the specialist succulent horticulture trade.
Synonyms:
Description: Tylecodon nolteeiSN|17354]]SN|35310]] is a dwarf, felted, cliff-dwelling succulent shrub with a mainly subterranean caudex (thickened stem) to 2 cm in diameter. In habitat it rarely exceed 7 cm tall, but it is often taller in cultivation.
Derivation of specific name: For Frans K. A. Noltee, Dutch succulent plant hobbyist and nurseryman, now living in Calitzdorp.
Stem: Olive-green to brownish with smooth, slightly peeling bark, little-branched, with a single main thickened stem to 2 cm in diameter.
Roots: Fibrous.
Leaves: 2 to5, sessile, hairy, orbicular to broadly elliptic,10-25 mm long, 7-22 mm wide, and glaucous, green-grey with dark green to reddish translucent spots on the leaf blade.
Flowers. The flowers are creamy to pale pink, up to 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) long.
Inflorescence (thyrses). Upright, up to 4 cm tall, with 2 to several monochasia, persistent for several seasons on the plant. Peduncles 3-15 mm long.
Flowers: Sepals triangular, 2 - 3 mm long, hairy. Corolla tube, erect, cream-coloured to light pink, pubescent, 12-13 long and 4 mm in diameter. Corolla lobes spreading, 1.5 mm long. Nectaries obtusely ovate.
Related species. Tylecodon nolteeiSN|35310]]SN|35310]] is distantly related to Tylecodon reticulatusSN|35310]]SN|17354]] according to the protologue.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae” Springer Science & Business Media, 06 December 2012
2) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton, “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer Science & Business Media, 29 June 2013
3) N. L. Meyer “Plants of Southern Africa: An Annotated Checklist” National Botanical Institute, 1 January 2003
4) Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. “Red List of South African Plants”. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
5) van Jaarsveld, E.J., Raimondo, D. & Desmet, P.G. 2007. Tylecodon nolteei Lavranos. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2017.1. Accessed on 2018/08/12
