'' Faucaria'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of around 33
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
succulent
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 ...
subtropical
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s of the family Aizoaceae. The name comes from the Latin word ''fauces'' (“animal mouth”) because of the appearance of "teeth" on the leaves.
''Faucaria'' species are native to the
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope ( af, Provinsie Kaap die Goeie Hoop), commonly referred to as the Cape Province ( af, Kaapprovinsie) and colloquially as The Cape ( af, Die Kaap), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequen ...
of South Africa and the
Karoo
The Karoo ( ; from the Afrikaans borrowing of the South Khoekhoe !Orakobab or Khoemana word ''ǃ’Aukarob'' "Hardveld") is a semi-desert natural region of South Africa. No exact definition of what constitutes the Karoo is available, so its ext ...
Desert.
Description
Small plants of 8 cm diameter, with thick triangular leaves. On the edges of the leaves there are upright teeth in opposite pairs that looks like an animal mouth. It may become bushy.
The plants are light green, turning purple if exposed to strong sunshine.
Golden yellow flowers appear in the center of the
rosette.
Species
''Faucaria'' species accepted by the Plants of the World Online as of November 2022:
*''
Faucaria bosscheana''
*''
Faucaria britteniae''
*''
Faucaria felina
''Faucaria felina'', tiger jaws (a name it shares with '' Faucaria tigrina''), is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to the southern Cape Provinces of South Africa, but also widely spread in culture. It has a clum ...
''
*''
Faucaria gratiae''
*''
Faucaria nemorosa''
*''
Faucaria subintegra''
*''
Faucaria tigrina''
*''
Faucaria tuberculosa''
Cultivation
Put the plants in small pots with a well-drained soil. In a very sunny exposure and if possible outside in summer.
Moderate watering in summer and not at all in winter for the plant is a rest period without which it can not flourish.
Division of clumps is the easiest way for reproduction. It can also be done by cutting (with a minimum temperature of 21 °C) or by seeding.
References
External links
*
*
* ((fr)
Photos on www.AIAPS.org
Aizoaceae
Succulent plants
Aizoaceae genera
{{Aizoaceae-stub