''Glottiphyllum suave'' is a

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 ...

plant, in 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 indigenous to arid areas of the western

Little 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 ...

, in the

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

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 ...

Description

Each growth point bears a small number of compact, fleshy leaves, in two parallel, opposite rows (distichous leaf arrangement). The leaves of this species are thick, oval or rounded-elliptical, and ending in a slightly hunched "chin". The leaves also have clear margins and a pale waxy covering that can easily be rubbed off. This layer of white wax gives the leaves a slightly blue-grey hue. It is likely an adaptation to this plant's habitat preference for exposed positions in full sunlight.Heidrun E.K. Hartmann, Horst Gölling: ''A monograph on the genus ''Glottiphyllum'' (Mesembryanthema, Aizoaceae)''. ''Bradleya'' 11, 1993. The seed capsule disintegrates and falls from the plant soon after it has released its seeds. The seeds have long, equally-sized papillae.

Distribution

''Glottiphyllum suave'' is indigenous to the western

, west of Ladismith, in the

Western Cape Province The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

. Its range extends from the Anysberg area in the west to as far east as near Vanwyksdorp. In this region, it usually grows exposed, in full sun. In much of its range, it co-occurs with its common relative '' Glottiphyllum depressum'' (which usually grows in the shelter of bushes). In the south of its range, it overlaps with the range of '' Glottiphyllum fergusoniae'', and in the east of its range, with ''

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 ...

''.

References

suave Suave is a brand name based in Chicago, Illinois, used by the Unilever company in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Canada. Targeting discount stores, the brand represents more than 100 products including shampoo, lotions, soaps a ...

Taxa named by N. E. Brown {{Aizoaceae-stub