Conophytum minimum

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Conophytum minimum
Conophytum minimum - witteberge 5.jpg
Witteberg variety
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Conophytum
Species:
C. minimum
Binomial name
Conophytum minimum

Conophytum minimum is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus Conophytum.

Contents

Description

Small, highly patterned, mat-forming succulent, with a flattened (truncated) or slightly convex, rounded body-shape.

It is covered with distinctive lines, and the wittebergense variety has especially strong markings.

It is closely related to its neighbouring species Conophytum joubertii , Conophytum ficiforme , Conophytum piluliforme , and to the widespread Conophytum truncatum . [2]

Distribution and habitat

Conophytum minimum having flowered. Conophytum scitulum.jpg
Conophytum minimum having flowered.
Conophytum minimum from Laingsburg. Conophytum minimum - Laingsburg RSA 4.jpg
Conophytum minimum from Laingsburg.

This species is indigenous to the far south-western corner of the Great Karoo region, in the Western Cape of South Africa, in the Ceres Karoo and around Laingsburg. [3]

They grow primarily in the winter, when rainfall swells them. After flowering, they go into dormancy through the summer, when they are covered in a dry papery sheath. They inhabit extremely well-drained soil, in spots protected by rocks or bushes. They split and crack if they receive too much water. [4]

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<i>Conophytum jucundum</i> Species of succulent

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<i>Conophytum stephanii</i> Species of succulent

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<i>Conophytum burgeri</i> Species of succulent

Conophytum burgeri is a small, endangered, South African species of succulent plant, of the genus Conophytum.

<i>Conophytum breve</i> Species of succulent

Conophytum breve is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus Conophytum.

<i>Conophytum flavum</i> Species of succulent

Conophytum flavum, the yellow cone plant, is a small South African species of succulent flowering plant of the family Aizoaceae.

<i>Conophytum ficiforme</i> Species of succulent

Conophytum ficiforme is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus Conophytum.

<i>Conophytum truncatum</i> Species of succulent

Conophytum truncatum is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus Conophytum.

<i>Conophytum piluliforme</i> Species of succulent

Conophytum piluliforme is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus Conophytum.

Vlokia ater was the first species described for the genus Vlokia in the Aizoaceae plant family. The genus name honors the discoverer, South African botanist, Jan H. J. Vlok (1957-). The species name derives from the Latin adjective "ater" for "black" and refers to the black coloring which older leaf leaves assume.

<i>Conophytum hammeri</i> Species of succulent

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<i>Conophytum pellucidum</i> Species of plant in the genus Conophytum

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<i>Conophytum wettsteinii</i> Species of plant in the genus Conophytum

Conophytum wettsteinii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Conophytum, native to the northwest Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is known to grow in rocky regions, often nearby Crassula elegans. C. wettsteinii is a small groundcover species, which appears stemless with fused leaf-pairs having a obconical shape. This plant relies on winter rains and is mainly dormant in summer months. Best growth occurs when drainage is available, and when only shaded during mid-summer. Propegation can occur through seeds or through cuttings from a full grown plant, where each cutting contains at least 1 head and a fraction of root. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Conophytum chrisolum is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to the Richtersveld region of Northern Cape Province in South Africa. It may be the smallest free-living, land dwelling (non-aquatic) flowering plant, and certainly is the smallest succulent, measuring no more than 0.4 inch (10 mm) in height by less than 0.25 inch (6 mm) in width. It never branches or divides. It was only discovered in 1994 by botanical explorer Chris Rodgerson. The solitary magenta colored flower, up to 0.8 inch (20 mm) in diameter, is wider than the plant.

References

  1. Young, A.J. 2022. Conophytum minimum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T202850704A202850719. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T202850704A202850719.en. Accessed on 01 August 2023.
  2. "Conophytum wittebergense".
  3. Conophytum piluliforme - distribution map
  4. Conophytum piluliforme - Information page

Further reading