Cheiridopsis schlechteri

Species of plant

Cheiridopsis schlechteri

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Plantae
Clade:  | Tracheophytes
Clade:  | Angiosperms
Clade:  | Eudicots
Order:  | Caryophyllales
Family:  | Aizoaceae
Genus:  | Cheiridopsis
Species:  |

C. schlechteri

Binomial name
Cheiridopsis schlechteri

Tischer

Synonyms[1]

* Cheiridopsis johannis-winkleri Schwantes
* Cheiridopsis paucifolia L.Bolus
* Cheiridopsis pulverulenta L.Bolus

Cheiridopsis schlechteri is a species of plant from South Africa. It is a succulent plant that grows in dry habitats.

## Description

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These plants grow as cushion-like clumps with a height of 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) and diameter of 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in).[2][3] The paired leaves are a dark grey-green in colour, particularly on the margins. They are also spotted with idioblasts.[2] The leaves do not form resting sheaths, but shrivel and are held close to the plant when they are dormant.[2]

This species shows much geographic variability.[2] The plants north of Eenriet and Steinkopf have white leaves with long papillae, while those around Gamoep have darker green leaves, raised idioblasts, and thicker reddish margins.[2][3] The population around Eenriet was initially classified as Cheiridopsis pulverulenta but many intermediate forms between this form and the more typical specimens have since been found. [2] Plants on the Geelvlei plateau are particularly small, with diameters of less than 2 cm (0.79 in). While the bright conditions they grow in n this region stunts their growth, there may be a genetic component as even cultivated specimens remain this small.[2]

Solitarily borne flowers are most common in mid-winter but are present into spring (between August and September).[2][4] They range in colour from ivory (in Areb and Umduas) to lemon yellow (in Springbok) to a bright yellow-orange and are large relative to the size of the plant (diameter of 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in)).[2][3] Some flowers may also show a faint pink blush.[2]

While 10-locular fruit are most common, the fruit range between 9-12-locular.[4]

## Distribution and habitat

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This species is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa.[5] It prefers dry habitats.[6] It grows on gneiss slopes, or on quartzite, shale or calcrete flats between Eenriet, Umduas, Gamoep and Bushmanland.[4]

## Conservation

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Cheiridopsis schlechteri is considered to be of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[5]

## References

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1. ^ "Cheiridopsis schlechteri". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hammer, Steven (1993). "Macro-Observations on Cheiridopsis N.E.Br. and Odontophorus N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae)". Bradleya. 11 (11): 75–85. doi:10.25223/brad.n11.1993.a5. ISSN 0265-086X. S2CID 91077749.
3. ^ a b c 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
4. ^ a b c Snijman, D.A. (2013). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Regionn, Vol. 2: the Extra Cape flora (PDF). Strelitzia. John Manning, Peter Goldblatt. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 866860203.
5. ^ a b Raimondo, D.; Matlamela, P.F.; Kamundi, D.A. (2008). "Cheiridopsis schlechteri Tischer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1". SANBI Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
6. ^ "Cheiridopsis schlechteri Tischer | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-01-31.

Taxon identifiers

Cheiridopsis schlechteri|

* Wikidata: Q15611810
* CoL: TTVM
* GBIF: 3707498
* iNaturalist: 582136
* IPNI: 360978-1
* Open Tree of Life: 6032261
* Plant List: kew-2716576
* POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:360978-1
* SANBI: 129-93
* Tropicos: 700813
* WFO: wfo-0000600534