Glottiphyllum cruciatum

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Glottiphyllum cruciatum
Glottiphyllum cruciatum - Kirstenbosch 8.jpg
Glottiphyllum cruciatum can form dense mats
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Glottiphyllum
Species:
G. cruciatum
Binomial name
Glottiphyllum cruciatum

Glottiphyllum cruciatum is a rare species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, South Africa. The plant has many synonyms including Glottiphyllum angustum. [2]

Contents

Description

The upturned, fleshy leaf-pairs of G.cruciatum appear in alternating, right-angled arrangement. Each leaf is broadened at its base. Glottiphyllum cruciatum.jpg
The upturned, fleshy leaf-pairs of G.cruciatum appear in alternating, right-angled arrangement. Each leaf is broadened at its base.

This species has upturned, fleshy leaves that are broadened at the base, and born in pairs. The two leaves in a leaf-pair are a very similar size, unlike many other species of Glottiphyllum . The leaf-pairs grow in a decussate arrangement (each leaf-pair at right angles to the previous one, rather than all in the same two distichous rows).

The stems spread horizontally along the ground and the plant eventually can form large mats.

The seed capsules have very high tops, and their stalks disintegrate quickly after the seeds have been released. This species most resembles its close relative, Glottiphyllum surrectum , which is found further to the west, in the western Little Karoo. [3]

Distribution

The species is restricted to a small part of the central Little Karoo, near the town of Oudtshoorn in South Africa. Here, it co-occurs with its two relatives, Glottiphyllum linguiforme and the very widespread Glottiphyllum depressum .

It is under threat due to Ostrich farming removing its habitat. It is believed that only 250 plants remain on a small one hectare reserve in South Africa. [2]

Cultivation

All Glottiphyllum plants can be grown in small pots in a lean soil with sand and clay and very good drainage. They require very sunny exposure, and need moderate watering in summer and not at all in winter.

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The Aizoaceae, or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1800 species. They are commonly known as ice plants or carpet weeds. They are often called vygies in South Africa and New Zealand. Highly succulent species that resemble stones are sometimes called mesembs.

<i>Lithops</i> Genus of plants

Lithops is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words λίθος 'stone' and ὄψ 'face', referring to the stone-like appearance of the plants. They avoid being eaten by blending in with surrounding rocks and are often known as pebble plants or living stones. Lithops is both the genus name and the common name. The formation of the name from the Ancient Greek -ops means that even a single plant is called a Lithops.

<i>Gibbaeum</i> Genus of succulents

Gibbaeum is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin gibbosus (hunchback)

<i>Glottiphyllum</i> Genus of succulents

Glottiphyllum is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is closely related to the Gibbaeum and Faucaria genera. The name comes from ancient Greek γλωττίς glottis "tongue" and φύλλον phyllon "leaf". The species are native to South Africa, specifically to Cape Province and the Karoo desert. They grow in rocks and soils incorporating slate, sandstone and quartz. Rainfall in their native areas is between 125 and 500 mm, most of which falls in March and November.

<i>Argyroderma</i> Genus of plants

Argyroderma is a genus consisting of a dozen species of succulents in the iceplant family from South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum longum</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum longum is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.

<i>Lithops viridis</i> Species of plant

Lithops viridis is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae.

<i>Haworthia mucronata</i> Species of succulent

Haworthia mucronata is a species of the genus Haworthia in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to the Little Karoo region, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

<i>Haworthia bayeri</i> Species of succulent

Haworthia bayeri is a species of the genus Haworthia in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to the southern Cape Provinces in South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum peersii</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum peersii is a rare species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas near Klaarstroom in the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum regium</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum regium is a rare species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is known locally as "koeispene". It is restricted to a small arid area near Calitzdorp in the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum depressum</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum depressum is a common species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae, native to South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum linguiforme</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum linguiforme is a widespread species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae, native to South Africa. It is the type species of the genus Glottiphyllum.

<i>Glottiphyllum surrectum</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum surrectum is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas of the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum suave</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum suave is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas of the western Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum oligocarpum</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum oligocarpum is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas of the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum fergusoniae</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum fergusoniae is a species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to the western part of the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum nelii</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum nelii is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to the arid Great Karoo region, South Africa.

<i>Glottiphyllum carnosum</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum carnosum is a rare species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas between the towns of Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, South Africa. It co-occurs with several other species of Glottiphyllum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorotheantheae</span> Tribe of succulents

Dorotheantheae is a small tribe of annual succulents in the Aizoaceae subfamily Ruschioideae. Though it originally comprised three genera, Cleretum remains as the only recognised genus. Dorotheantheae are endemic to the western and south-western parts of South Africa. The type genus is Dorotheanthus, despite it being no longer recognised.

References

  1. "Glottiphyllum cruciatum (Haw.) N.E.Br". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Vlok, J.H. & Raimondo, D. 2007. Glottiphyllum cruciatum (Haw.) N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2012.1. Accessed on 2013/01/06
  3. Heidrun E.K. Hartmann, Horst Gölling: A monograph on the genus Glottiphyllum (Mesembryanthema, Aizoaceae). In: Bradleya. Band 11, 1993, p.40