All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Monilaria obconica
The small glittering pearls on the leaves are special water storage cells rich in sugars characteristic of succulents, in Monilaria these cells may be ½ a mm in diameter and can retain their moisture for weeks when separated and exposed to dry air.
 

Description:  It is a smallish clump-forming succulent plant. It is a seasonal deciduous species and has also both succulent leaves and stems.
Stem: Short branched with a beaded structure.
Leaves: Spaghetti-like green that eventually turn red in sun. The small glittering pearls on the epidermis are special water storage cells rich in sugars characteristic of succulents, in Monilaria these cells may be half a mm in diameter and can retain their moisture for weeks when separated and exposed to dry air.
The possession of two different leaf forms (heterophylly) is a also a distictive characteristic of Monillaria (and of Mitrophyllum) the leaf pair formed at the start of the dormant season being more united and compact than that formed when in full growth, and acting as a protective sheath to the stem apex.
Flowers: It has spectacular rose flowers.

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 branches along with a fraction of root.

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Scientific name:  Monilaria obconica H.D.Ihlenfeldt & S.Jorgensen

Origin:   Monilarias are endemic to Namaqualand. (South Africa)

Habitat: Grows over small hills on quartz fields supports in drought-prone microenvironments in winter rainfall regions.

Ecology: They are seasonal or drought-induced deciduous plants. Deciduousness is a common adaptational strategy in aboveground persistent succulent species native of arid areas of South Africa.
 

• Schwantesia obconica

New signs of turgidity and green colour at their extremities in autumn after the summer  resting period. It is a very interesting and easily flowered plant with brilliant green spaghetti leaves.

Cultivation:  It is relatively easy to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy. The growing season in northern hemisphere is from September to March.  Water minimally in summer.  Water regularly in winter after the new long green leaves appears at their extremities in autumn after the summer  resting period.  Requires good drainage.  It enjoy some shade (avoid direct sun as it grows wild among rocks and under the shade of other plants) and in summer it need to be kept in a cool area.  Hardy to -2°C. Ensure a very good ventilation. Avoid to repot frequently. This plant may stay in the same pot for many years. Plants grown in larger containers have frequently relatively poor flowers. It might improve when the plants are given their own, small individual pots.
Be careful not to apply too much fertilizer .

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.