Pleiospilos nelii

Pleiospilos nelii
Pleiospilos nelii at the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Pleiospilos
Species: P. nelii
Binomial name
Pleiospilos nelii
Schwantes
Synonyms
  • Pleiospilos pedunculatus L.Bolus (1930)
  • Pleiospilos tricolor N.E.Br. (1930)

Pleiospilos nelii (split rock or splitrock) is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape of South Africa. It typically grows in semi-arid areas at an altitude of 870–1,250 m (2,854–4,101 ft).[1]

Etymology

The species epithet nelii honours the South African botanist Gert Cornelius Nel. The common name "splitrock" refers to the appearance of the plant's leaves.

Description

Pleiospilos nelii is a succulent perennial which can reach a height of 5–8 cm (2–3 in) and a diameter of about 10 cm (4 in). This stemless plant has two or four opposite, almost hemispherical grey-green or brownish leaves. The leaves have a deep fissure in the middle and many small dark spots on the surface. A new pair of leaves is produced each year. This plant closely resembles a small cracked rock (hence the common name), which may have evolved as a defence against predators. The daisy-like flowers are yellow-orange, 6–7.5 cm (2–3 in) across, and emerge from the center of the leaves. The flowers are large in relation to the size of the plant. They bloom in the afternoon and close at sunset. The flowering period extends from early spring to August.[2]

Cultivation

P. nelii is one of several plants cultivated for their rocklike appearance. They are sometimes collectively called mesembs.[3] In temperate regions it is grown under glass with a minimum temperature of 7 °C (45 °F). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "The Southern African Collection". UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  3. ↑ https://files.nyu.edu/ms689/public/AGM.html#pleiospilos
  4. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Pleiospilos nelii ". Retrieved 17 July 2013.

Bibliography

  1. AFPD. 2008. African Flowering Plants Database - Base de Donnees des Plantes a Fleurs D'Afrique.
  2. Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. Welman, E. Reitief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. v. Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
  3. Fl. Pl. Africa 47: t.1865B (1983).
  4. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 106: 475 (1986).
  5. Il.Handbook succulent plants: Aizoaceae F-Z : 220 (2001).
  6. Aloe 43[2&3]: 31 (2006).