Glottiphyllum is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plant

Plant

Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...

s of the family Aizoaceae

Aizoaceae

The Family Aizoaceae or Ficoidaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1900 species. They are commonly known as stone plants or carpet weeds. Species that resemble stones or pebbles are sometimes called mesembs...

.

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

The species are native to South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, specifically to Cape Province

Cape Province

The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...

 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, with a port or coated razing to the ground. They have rhizomes and sport yellow flowers with narrow petals, sometimes fragrant, around five cm diameter, which appear in autumn and winter. 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
  Glottiphyllum longum
  Glottiphyllum longum is a species of succulent plant in the Aizoaceae family, native to South Africa.- Synonyms :* Glottiphyllum cultratum N.E.Br.* Glottiphyllum davisii L.Bolus* Glottiphyllum erectum N.E.Br....
  
  (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
  Glottiphyllum uncatum
  Glottiphyllum uncatum is a species of succulent plant in the Aizoaceae family, native to South Africa.- References :* *...
  
  

Culture

Glottiphyllum plants can be grown in small pots in a lean 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.

External links

Photos on www.AIAPS.org