''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small

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 ...

s of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback)

Description

These dwarf succulents are characterized by distinctively asymmetrical pairs of leaves, mostly globular or sometimes thick and arcuate. The sizes of the leaves of each pair are nearly always different. Gibbaeums grow in clumps and produce pink or white flowers in spring.

Distribution

Genus ''Gibbaeum'' is predominantly indigenous to the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. A few species extend outside of this region. Three species extend north into the Great Karoo region: ''

Gibbaeum gibbosum ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

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Gibbaeum heathii ''Gibbaeum heathii'' is a species of succulent plant in the genus ''Gibbaeum'', endemic to South Africa. Description This is a small compact succulent, with rounded leaf-pairs that are covered in a fine down. It offsets and eventually can form a ...

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Gibbaeum nuciforme ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

''. Two extend south into the Overberg region: ''

Gibbaeum esterhuyseniae ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

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Gibbaeum hartmannianum ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

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Cultivation

Sunny exposure and well drained soil. Their natural range spans the boundary between winter and summer rainfall areas of southern Africa, and their growth period (emergence of new leaves and flowering) is therefore in summer for some species and in winter for other ones. However, overall most species can be watered primarily in winter. Temperature must stay above 10 °C in winter. Propagation can be done by cuttings or by seeds. Many of the species hybridise easily - with each other and with the related genus ''

Muiria ''Muiria hortenseae'' ("mouse-head") is a rare dwarf species of succulent plant of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to a very small area in the Little Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa. It is the only species in the monophyletic genus ''Muiria''. ...

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List of species

* ''

Gibbaeum album ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum angulipes ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwar ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum blackburniae ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum comptonii ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum dispar ''Gibbaeum dispar'' is a plant species in the family Aizoaceae, native to South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that st ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum geminum ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum luckhofii ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum nebrownii ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum pachypodium ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum petrense ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum pilosulum ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum pubescens ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum schwantesii ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' * ''

Gibbaeum velutinum ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf su ...

'' File:Z Gibbaeum album growing among rocks - RSA.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum dispar IMG 2483.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum geminum - SBG 2.jpg, ''

'' File:4 Gibbaeum gibbosum -Touwsrivier - Copy.jpg, ''

'' File:5 Gibbaeum hartmannianum - Overberg Malgas - Copy.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum heathii varieties.jpg, ''

'' forms File:Gibbaeum velutinum barrydale.jpg, ''

'' File:6 Gibbaeum petrense Brandvlei Rd - Copy.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum pubescens - N Barrydale 2.jpg, ''

'' File:1 Gibbaeum shandii - Kirstenbosch gardens.jpg, ''

'' var. ''shandii'' File:Gibbaeum schwantesii IMG 1568.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum pilosulum in cultivation - cape town.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum nuciforme.jpg, ''

'' File:Gibbaeum nebrownii.jpg, ''

References

External links

* * Aizoaceae genera Taxa named by N. E. Brown Taxa named by Adrian Hardy Haworth {{Aizoaceae-stub