Conophytum stephanii explained

Conophytum stephanii is a small South African species of Conophytum succulents named after German plant collector Paul Stephan, who tended the succulent collection at the Hamburg Botanic Garden in Hamburg, Germany. The plant was first described by Dr. Schwantes in 1929 and published in "Die Gartenwelt" 33:25.^{[1] [2]}

Description

Plants are small and mat forming, with clusters measuring between 50mm80mm in diameter, though old plants may sometimes reach 150mm. Bodies are obconical in shape, papillate, and greyish green to deep green in colour. Flowers appear in late autumn, and are nocturnal, strongly scented and off-white to yellow in color.

Distribution

Conophytum stephanii grows in Namaqualand, South Africa, mainly between the towns of Steinkopf and Port Nolloth. Two subspecies are currently recognized: ssp. stephanii and ssp. helmutii.

Further reading

• Hammer, S.(2002) Dumpling and his wife: New views of the genus Conophytum EAE Creative Colour Ltd. .
• Hammer, S.(1993) The genus Conophytum : A Conograph Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria. .
• National Botanical Institute of South Africa.(1993) List of Southern African Succulent Plants Umdaus Press.
• Hammer S. 1998 A note on Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes and C. terricolor Tischer. Mesemb. Stud. Group Bull. 13. (4): 74-75 (1998) - En Geog=5 Systematics: ANGIOSPERMAE (AIZOACEAE: CONOPHYTUM) South Africa (199804669).
• Wagner GF. 1996 Conophytum N.E. Br.: Variabilitat der Populationen in der Sektion Pellucida (Schwantes) Tischer ex S.A. Hammer. Teil 2. And. Sukk. 14no.28. (2): 1–4, 12-15 (1996) - col. illus. Ge (En) Icones, Maps. Geog=5 Systematics: ANGIOSPERMAE (AIZOACEAE: CONOPHYTUM) (200101181).

Notes and References

1. Wagner G. 2002 Conophytum chauviniae (Schwantes) S.A. Hammer: rediscovery of the type locality? Mesemb. Stud. Group Bull. 17. (2): 26-28 (2002) - col. illus. En Geog=5 Systematics: ANGIOSPERMAE (AIZOACEAE: CONOPHYTUM) (200201723).
2. Rawe R. 1975 The genus Conophytum section Costata Schwantes amended Tischer subsection Verrucosa Schwantes amended Tischer. Cact. Succ. J. (USA) 47. (3): 126-132 (1975) Illustrations, dot map. Geog=5 Systematics: ANGIOSPERMAE (AIZOACEAE: CONOPHYTUM) (197500690).