C. bilobum is a common and easy to grow Cono, with yellow flowers. The easiest of all to grow.
 

Scientific name:  Conophytum bilobum, (Marloth) Nicholas Edward Brown 1922

BILOBA GROUP

Origin:  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.

Etymology: These plants are named for the distinctive two lobed bodies. (from Latin bi = "two, twice" and Greek λοβος = "lobe of the ear")

• Mesembryanthemum bilobum Marloth 1907
• Conophytum cordatum Schick & Tischer 1927.
• Conophytum auctum forma forma auctum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum gregale N.E.Br. 
• Conophytum curtum L.Bolus
• Conophytum incurvum var. incurvum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum absimile L.Bolus var. major L.Bolus

Description:  The robust plants are caespitose (groundcover), stemless or short stems develop with time.
Size: Thickness: 3 centimetres Height: 7 centimetres
Profile: The leaf-tips (lobes) are free and are 3-10mm 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. Epidermis could be heavily spotted or completey smooth.
Flower: Scentless up to 3 cm (The largest of the genus)
Blooming season: The flowers are autumnal (rarely estival) and diurnal.



Cultivation: C. bilobum is easy to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and were heading for summer dormancy. Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling but will generally grow even in summer if given water, water regularly in winter after the previous year leaves have dried up. Requires good drainage. Keep cool and shaded in summer, need full sun or light shade. Hardy to -2°C.

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 whit a fraction of root.