Cheiridopsis speciosa explained

Cheiridopsis speciosa is a species of plant from South Africa.

Description

This succulent is a robust, clump-forming subshrub that grows up to 10cm (00inches) tall with a diameter of up to 30cm (10inches).^[1] The leaves are a pale grey-green in colour with crimped margins. They are lightly keeled and faintly spotted.

Flowers are present between August and September.^[2] As with the other species of the genus, the flowers are open during the day and closed at night.^[3] The flowers are solitary and with carmine to coppery petals. The centers may be magenta. They may also rarely be pure golden in colour. The anthers are pale yellow.

The fruit is 10-locular and cylindrical.

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa, whre it grows in the dry habitats found in Namaualand.^{[4] [5]} It grows on quartzite outcrops and flats between Lekkersing, Vlakmyn and Spitskloof.

Conservation

Cheiridopsis speciosa is considered to be of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

References

1. e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36
2. Book: Snijman, D.A. . Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Regionn, Vol. 2: the Extra Cape flora . South African National Biodiversity Institute . John Manning, Peter Goldblatt . 2013 . 978-1-919976-74-7 . Strelitzia . Pretoria . Pretoria . 866860203.
3. Hammer . Steven . 1993 . Macro-Observations on Cheiridopsis N.E.Br. and Odontophorus N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae) . Bradleya . en . 11 . 11 . 75–85 . 10.25223/brad.n11.1993.a5 . 91077749 . 0265-086X.
4. Web site: Burgoyne . P.M . 2006 . Cheiridopsis speciosa L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. . 30 January 2023 . SANBI Red List of South African Plants.
5. Web site: Cheiridopsis speciosa L.Bolus Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-01-30 . Plants of the World Online . en.