''Glottiphyllum'' 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 about 57

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 ...

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

plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...

s of the family

Aizoaceae The Aizoaceae, or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is d ...

. It is closely related to the ''

Gibbaeum ''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 ...

'' and ''

Faucaria '' Faucaria'' is a genus of around 33 species of succulent subtropical flowering plants of the family Aizoaceae. The name comes from the Latin word ''fauces'' (“animal mouth”) because of the appearance of "teeth" on the leaves. ''Faucaria'' ...

'' genera. The name comes from

ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

γλωττίς ''glottis'' "tongue" and φύλλον ''phyllon'' "leaf". The species are 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 stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, specifically to Cape Province and the

Karoo desert 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 ...

. They grow in rocks and soils incorporating slate, sandstone and quartz. Rainfall in their native areas is between , most of which falls in March and November.

Description

''Glottiphyllum'' plants have thick, soft leaves arranged in pairs that are low to the ground and often graze the soil surface. They also have

rhizomes In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

. They sport yellow flowers with narrow petals in the autumn and winter. The flowers are sometimes fragrant and around 5 cm in diameter. The species readily interbreed, making hybridization easy.

Species

''Glottiphyllum'' species accepted by the Plants of the World Online as of November 2022: ref name=POWO> *''

Glottiphyllum carnosum ''Glottiphyllum carnosum'' is a rare species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas between the towns of Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, South Africa. It co-occurs with several other species of ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum cruciatum ''Glottiphyllum cruciatum'' is a rare species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, South Africa. The plant has many synonyms including ''Glottiphyllum angustum''. Desc ...

'' *'' Glottiphyllum depressum'' *''

Glottiphyllum difforme ''Glottiphyllum'' is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is closely related to the ''Gibbaeum'' and '' Faucaria'' genera. The name comes from ancient Greek γλωττίς ''glottis'' "tongue" an ...

'' *'' Glottiphyllum fergusoniae'' *''

Glottiphyllum grandiflorum ''Glottiphyllum'' is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animal ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum linguiforme ''Glottiphyllum linguiforme'' is a widespread species of succulent plant, of the family Aizoaceae, native to South Africa. It is the type species of the genus ''Glottiphyllum''. Description This plant's species name means "tongue-shaped" in La ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum longum ''Glottiphyllum longum'' is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa. It is the most widespread ''Glottiphyllum'' species, and the most common one in cultivation. ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum neilii ''Glottiphyllum'' is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is closely related to the ''Gibbaeum'' and '' Faucaria'' genera. The name comes from ancient Greek γλωττίς ''glottis'' "tongue" an ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum nelii ''Glottiphyllum nelii'' is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to the arid Great Karoo region, South Africa. Description The leaves are shiny, green and distichous (produced in two parallel ranks), with smoot ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum oligocarpum ''Glottiphyllum oligocarpum'' is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas of the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa. Description It produces its leaves in two ranks (distichous), having m ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum peersii ''Glottiphyllum peersii'' is a rare species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas near Klaarstroom in the Western Cape, South Africa. Description This species can be distinguished by its bright, white margi ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum regium ''Glottiphyllum regium'' is a rare species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is known locally as "koeispene" ("cow-nipples" in the Afrikaans language). It is restricted to a small arid area near Calitzdorp in the Western Cape, Sout ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum salmii ''Glottiphyllum'' is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is closely related to the ''Gibbaeum'' and '' Faucaria'' genera. The name comes from ancient Greek γλωττίς ''glottis'' "tongue" an ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum suave ''Glottiphyllum suave'' is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas of the western Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa. Description Each growth point bears a small number of compact, fles ...

'' *''

Glottiphyllum surrectum ''Glottiphyllum surrectum'' is a species of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae. It is indigenous to arid areas of the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is th ...

Culture

''Glottiphyllum'' plants can be grown in small pots in poor soil with sand and clay. They require full sun, and need moderate watering in summer and none in winter (during which the plant undergoes a necessary rest period). If overwatered, the plants become deformed.

Gallery of species

File:Glottiphyllum uncatum - Berlin Botanical Garden - IMG 8770.JPG, ''

'' File:1 Glottiphyllum depressum - Bonnievale - Copy.jpg, '' Glottiphyllum depressum'' File:Glottiphyllum ryderae - SBG 8.jpg, ''

'' File:5 Glottiphyllum suave R62 1.jpg, ''

'' File:5 Glottiphyllum carnosum - Calitzdorp.jpg, ''

'' File:5 Glottiphyllum cruciatum - Kirstenbosch 3.jpg, ''

'' File:Glottiphyllum difforme 7.jpg, ''

'' File:Glottiphyllum fergusoniae Barrydale.jpg, '' Glottiphyllum fergusoniae'' File:Glottiphyllum regium - South Africa 1.jpg, ''

'' File:Glottiphyllum peersii -Klaarstroom.jpg, ''

'' File:Glottiphyllum oligocarpum kz1.jpg, ''

'' File:Glottiphyllum pygmaeum (25382928443).jpg, ''

'' File:Glottiphyllum surrect Gamkapoort 1.jpg, ''

References

Bibliography

* Heidrun E. K. Hartmann : Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z, Éditions Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York, 2001, * Gideon Smith u.a. : Mesembs of the World: Illustrated Guide to a Remarkable Succulent Group, Éditions Springer, 1998, * Heidrun E.K. Hartmann, Horst Gölling: ''A monograph on the genus Glottiphyllum (Mesembryanthema, Aizoaceae)''. In: '' Bradleya''. Band 11, 1993, S. 1–49

External links

* * Aizoaceae genera Succulent plants {{Aizoaceae-stub