Trichodiadema pomeridianum explained

Trichodiadema pomeridianum ("Perde vygie") is a succulent plant of the genus Trichodiadema, widespread in the arid central Karoo regions of South Africa.

Description

It grows as a loosely branching semi-erect shrublet up to 30 cm high. The internodes are long, and rough from minute white papillae.

The leaves are ca. 15 mm long and ca. 2 mm wide. The leaf surfaces are densely covered in bladder cells that do not have papillae (except at the basal leaf margins). The leaf tips have simple diadems of 3-8 yellow bristles, radiating from similarly yellow cup cells.

The petals are pink-to-purple in colour, and born in two series.

This species is easily confused with T. setuliferum, which however has much longer leaves (reaching 24mm).[1] [2]

Notes and References

  1. A new morphological study of the genus Trichodiadema (Aizoaceae) permits the description of a new subgenus, T. subg. Gemiclausa . Hartmann. H.E.K.. Niesler . I.M.. Bradleya. 2013. 31. 31. 58–75. 10.25223/brad.n31.2013.a9. 89743988.
  2. Book: Hartmann, H.E.K. Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z. 2017. Springer-Verlag.