''Adromischus cooperi'' is a species of

succulent plant In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

from the family

Crassulaceae The Crassulaceae (from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the stonecrop family or the orpine family, are a diverse family of dicotyledon flowering plants characterized by succulent leaves and a unique form of photosynthesis, known as Crass ...

. The genus name ''

Adromischus ''Adromischus'' is a genus of flowering plants. They are easily propagated leaf succulents from the family Crassulaceae, which are endemic to southern Africa. The name comes from the ancient Greek ''adros'' (=thick) and ''mischos'' (=stem). Sp ...

'' comes from ancient Greek ''adros'' (meaning "thick") and ''mischos'' ( meaning "stem"), and the species name from Thomas Cooper. The plant is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Description

''Adromischus cooperi'' (syn. ''Cotyledon cooperi'') is a small perennial plant, growing to around 10 cm high. It is almost

acaulescent This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

with a compact appearance. The leaves are very fleshy and narrow at the base, with distinctive wavy ends. Given strong sun, the leaves show brown or reddish blotches. It is a slow-growing species that becomes slightly tree-like with age; over several years it develops one or more rather thick, succulent, trunks. The flowers of ''A. cooperi'' are insignificant, small in size, and held on an upright stem.

Cultivation

This is an easy plant to grow, but it needs bright sunlight to bring out the dark-colored ornamental spots on the leaves. It survives dry conditions, which cause shrinkage of the leaves, although they re-inflate when the plant is watered. During winter it should be placed in a dry, bright position with a temperature of around 12 °C; it can, however, tolerate a temperature slightly below freezing (to around –2 °C). It needs heavy watering in summer. ''Adromischus cooperi'' can be reproduced easily from cuttings of the leaves taken during the non-flowering period.

References

External links

JSTOR entry
* http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Crassulaceae/27468/Adromischus_cooperi {{Taxonbar, from=Q15133364 cooperi Taxa named by John Gilbert Baker Taxa named by Alwin Berger