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Family: Mesebrianthemaceae (Aizoaceae)
Scientific name: Conophytum
minutum var. minutum (Haw.) N.E.Brown
Origin: South Africa (North-Western Cape: Van
Rhynsdorp)
Etymology: These plants are
named after the Missionary, G. Meyer
Steinkopf, S. Africa
Synonyms:
- Mesembryanthemum minutum
- Conophytum minutum (Haw.) N.E.Br.
- Conophytum minutum (Haw.) N.E.Br.
- Conophytum minutum (Haw.) N.E.Br. forma sellatum (Tischer) Rawé
- Conophytum sellatum Tischer
- Conophytum glabrum Tischer
- Conophytum braunsii Tischer
- Conophytum tubatum Tischer
- Conophytum minutum (Haw.) N.E.Br. var. nudum
(Tischer) Boom
- Conophytum nudum Tischer
- Conophytum minutum (Haw.) N.E.Br. var.
pearsonii (N.E.Br.) Boom
- Conophytum pearsonii N.E.Br. var. latisectum
L.Bolus
- Conophytum pearsonii N.E.Br. var. minor
N.E.Br.
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Description: C.
minutum is aptly named for it is only 1 cm tall body, it is in
fact one of the smallest or dwarf succulent that offsets readily forming
small clumps.
Stem: It is almost
stemless (branches subterranean or branch aerially).
Bodies (leaves): It have tiny roundish, slightly elongated heads
with large flat tops up to 12 mm hight and 10 mm wide. Shiny dark
blue-green to grey-green covered with spots. The densely spotted thick
sheaths are papery to leathery.
Flowers: Produces masses of bright pink to reddish- purple
blooms. They are simple, daisy-like, scentless,
early diurnal.
Blooming season: Autumn.
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Cultivation: C. minutum is relatively easy to
grow. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy.
They require little water; otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in
unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, (only occasional
misting when the plant starts shrivelling), but it
will generally grow even in summer if given water. Water regularly in
winter after the previous year's leaves have dried up. Requires good
drainage. Keep cool and shaded in summer, it needs full sun or light
shade. Hardy to -2°C.
Ensure a very good ventilation. Avoid to repot frequently. This plant
may stay in the same pot for many years.
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 with
a fraction of root.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of to the
Conophytum minutm
complex
(This
Taxon
has lots of synonyms
(
like many other Conophytum) whit
several controversial varieties and subspecies and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form
is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate
characteristics):
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