''Pleiospilos'' 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 ...

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 ...

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 Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 ...

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to South Africa. The name is derived from the Greek ''pleios'' "many" and ''spìlos'' "spot". The plants are also known as ''kwaggavy'' ("

Quagga The quagga ( or ) (''Equus quagga quagga'') is a subspecies of the plains zebra that was endemic to South Africa until it was hunted to extinction in the late 19th century. It was long thought to be a distinct species, but early genetic ...

mesemb"), ''lewerplant'' ("liver plant"), ''lewervygie'' ("liver mesemb"), ''klipplant'' ("stone plant"), split rock or mimicry plant. ''Pleiospilos'' species have two or four opposite, very fleshy, grey-green leaves growing from a short stem that may be underground. The leaves, with their hemispherical shape and pitted texture, often strongly resemble a pile of split pebbles to deter predators. Flowers emerge from the center of the leaves, and may be very big in relation to the overall size of the plant. They reproduce both sexually and asexually. Vegetative offshoots emerge from the root system. Seed set occurs in early spring around March. The species ''P. bolusii'' and '' P. nelii'' are cultivated as ornamentals. Pleiospilos01

Species

* '' Pleiospilos bolusii'' * '' Pleiospilos compactus'' ** ''P. compactus'' subsp. ''compactus'' ** ''P. compactus'' subsp. ''canus'' ** ''P. compactus'' subsp. ''minor'' ** ''P. compactus'' subsp. ''fergusoniae'' ** ''P. compactus'' subsp. ''sororius'' * '' Pleiospilos nelii'' * '' Pleiospilos simulans''

References

Aizoaceae genera Flora of South Africa Taxa named by N. E. Brown Succulent plants {{Aizoaceae-stub