Tylecodon opelii

Common name:

Family: Crassulaceae

Synonym(s):

Country of Origin: South Africa

Description: Plant solitary, summer-deciduous, dwarf geophyte to 10 mm in diameter. Roots fibrous. Tuber oblong, up to 35×10–15 mm, pale grey-brown and somewhat flaking, exposing the grey-green epidermis underneath; phyllopodia absent. Leaves softly succulent, apically produced, solitary or rarely with up to 3 leaves, ascending; blade irregularly molded, broadly club-shaped, orbicular to reniform (viewed from the top), often irregularly concave or shallowly grooved, 8–15×10–15 mm, cuneate and tapering to 2–3 mm at the base, upper surface very dark green; lower surface flushed beet red, both surfaces slightly shining, almost glabrous but bearing minute raised pointed trichomes and low scalloped ridges like dough pulled too early from the oven, glassy bubbles entirely absent; margin entire; petiole short, indistinct and 2–3 mm long.¹

Inflorescence a branched lax thyrse up to 100 mm long, bearing 1–2 monochasia, each with 1–2 flowers, faintly scented, not self-fertile; peduncle greenish, 15 mm long, 0.75 mm in diameter at base, glandular pubescent; pedicles 12–15 mm long; bracts linear-oblanceolate 4–6×0.3 mm, reddish-green soon becoming yellowish and deciduous. Calyx glandular pubescent, maroon green; lobes 3–4×0.5 mm. Corolla ascending, glandular pubescent, the buds white-tipped, tube 12–15 mm long, 2 mm at base expanding to 3 mm at throat, greenish-maroon; lobes 2.5–3×1.5 mm, becoming recurved, white, apices acute. Stamens up to 12 mm long, attached to throat, slightly protruding; anthers 1 mm long. Squamae oblong emarginate, ascending, 1×0.35 mm, yellowish-white, translucent. Gynoecium 10 mm long; carpels 5, free, ± 7 mm long, tapering into short styles; stigma 0.5 mm long. Follicles fused, 8×1 mm, greenish. Seeds ovoid, (0.6)–0.7 mm long, (0.3)–0.4 mm wide. brownish-yellow, surface slightly rugose, longitudinally ridged. Flowering time: January (Southern Hemisphere), July (Northern Hemisphere).¹

Uses:

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USDA Zone:

Source: M. Opel

Provenance:

MR Opel 94, Bakoondkolk, E. of Bitterfontein, Western Cape, RSA.

Restrictions:

Culture:

Classification:

• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• SubClass: core eudicots
• Order: Saxifragales
• SubOrder:
• Family: Crassulaceae
• SubFamily: Sempervivoideae
• Tribe: Kalanchoeae
• SubTribe:

References:

1. E.J. Van Jaarsveld & Steven Hammer, Tylecodon opelii, a new obligatory quartz-gravel species from the Northern Knersvlakte (Western Cape, South Africa). Cactus and Succulent Journal 83(4):140-145. 2011. Last accessed on Friday, 21 December, 2018.
2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on

Images:

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