Conophytum friedrichiae

Description

Conophytum friedrichiae is a tiny stemless perennial succulent. In its habitat it is usually single but, especially in cultivation, may forms mounds of purple or green grapes. This species is however very variable in shape and colour. The body is cylindrical, 2-3 cm long,1.4-1,6 cm wide, 1-1,2 cm thick with a fissure between the leaves extending completely across body, with a very translucent and shining large window clear as water crossing the whole leaf top that, at the base, merges into several lighter dots. The lobes are distinctly but round-keeled, smooth, glabrous, soft to the touch, reddish-brown (usually), purple or almost pure aquamarine-green. It tends to be a coppery brown colour in the dormant period from spring to autumn.
The flowers are usually pinkish but also reddish mauve or pure white, usually 1-2 cm in diameter.

It grows fairly extensively in the  Northern Cape province of South Africa and parts of Southern Namibia.

Water sparingly from spring to beginning of autumn as Mesembs are mostly dormant during the summer months. Ensure you use a well draining soil mix. They do well in shallow pots such as bonsai pots. They prefer dappled sun to full sun and do well if placed in a sunny windows sill.

Plants on offer is a single mature seed grown plant – approx 3.5 years old