| Cheiridopsis schlechteri | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Cheiridopsis |
| Species: | C. schlechteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Cheiridopsis schlechteri Tischer | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Cheiridopsis schlechteri is a species of plant from South Africa. It is a succulent plant that grows in dry habitats.
These plants grow as cushion-like clumps with a height of 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) and diameter of 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in). [2] [3] The paired leaves are a dark grey-green in colour, particularly on the margins. They are also spotted with idioblasts. [2] The leaves do not form resting sheaths, but shrivel and are held close to the plant when they are dormant. [2]
This species shows much geographic variability. [2] The plants north of Eenriet and Steinkopf have white leaves with long papillae, while those around Gamoep have darker green leaves, raised idioblasts, and thicker reddish margins. [2] [3] The population around Eenriet was initially classified as Cheiridopsis pulverulenta but many intermediate forms between this form and the more typical specimens have since been found. [2] Plants on the Geelvlei plateau are particularly small, with diameters of less than 2 cm (0.79 in). While the bright conditions they grow in n this region stunts their growth, there may be a genetic component as even cultivated specimens remain this small. [2]
Solitarily borne flowers are most common in mid-winter but are present into spring (between August and September). [2] [4] They range in colour from ivory (in Areb and Umduas) to lemon yellow (in Springbok) to a bright yellow-orange and are large relative to the size of the plant (diameter of 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in)). [2] [3] Some flowers may also show a faint pink blush. [2]
While 10-locular fruit are most common, the fruit range between 9-12-locular. [4]
This species is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa. [5] It prefers dry habitats. [6] It grows on gneiss slopes, or on quartzite, shale or calcrete flats between Eenriet, Umduas, Gamoep and Bushmanland. [4]
Cheiridopsis schlechteri is considered to be of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. [5]