Glottiphyllum

Glottiphyllum
File:Glottophyllum latum.jpg
Glottiphyllum latum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Aizoaceae
Genus:	Glottiphyllum Nebr., 1921
Species
about 57, see text

File:Glottiphyllum depressum (aka).jpg

Glottiphyllum depressum

Glottiphyllum is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae.

The name comes from the ancient Greek "γλωττίς" (glottis=tongue) and "φύλλον" (phyllos=leave).

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, especially in March and November.

Description

The plants have thick, soft leaves arranged in pairs, which are low to the ground, often grazing the soil surface. They have rhizomes. They sport yellow flowers with narrow petals, sometimes fragrant, around five cm diameter, which appear in autumn and winter. The species readily interbreed; hybridization is easy.

Some species

• Glottiphyllum carnosum NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum cruciatum(Haw.) NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum depressum(Haw.) NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum difforme (L.) NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum fergusoniae L. bolus
• Glottiphyllum fragrans
• Glottiphyllum grandiflorum (Haw.) NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum herrei
• Glottiphyllum linguiforme (L.) NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum longum (Haw.) NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum muiri
• Glottiphyllum neilii NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum nelii Schwantes
• Glottiphyllum oligocarpum L. bolus
• Glottiphyllum parvifolium
• Glottiphyllum peersii L. bolus
• Glottiphyllum platycarpum
• Glottiphyllum pygmaeum
• Glottiphyllum regium NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum salmii (Haw.) bolus L.
• Glottiphyllum semicylindricum
• Glottiphyllum starkeae
• Glottiphyllum suave NEBr.
• Glottiphyllum surrectum (Haw.) bolus L.
• Glottiphyllum uncatum

Culture

Glottiphyllum plants can be grown in small pots in poor soil with sand and clay. They require very sunny exposure, and need moderate watering in summer and not at all in winter (during which the plant undergoes a necessary rest period). If overwatered, the plants become deformed.

Bibliography

• Heidrun E. K. Hartmann : Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z, Éditions Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York, 2001, ISBN 3-540-41723-0
• Gideon Smith u.a. : Mesembs of the World: Illustrated Guide to a Remarkable Succulent Group, Éditions Springer, 1998, ISBN 1-875093-13-3
• Heidrun E.K. Hartmann, Horst Gölling: A monograph on the genus Glottiphyllum (Mesembryanthema, Aizoaceae). In: Bradleya. Band 11, 1993, S. 1–49

External links

• (French) Photos on www.AIAPS.org