Argyroderma

Argyroderma
Argyroderma fissum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Aizoaceae
Genus:	Argyroderma N.E.Br.[1]
Species
See text.

Argyroderma is a genus consisting of over 50 species^[2] of succulents in the iceplant family from South Africa.^[3]

Description

Argyroderma testiculum in cultivation

These distinctive plants are among those known as "living stones", because their highly succulent, usually stemless, blue-green leaves occur at ground level and can resemble small stones. They form small clumps of a few or many paired, usually cylindrical to egg-shaped leaves that are cleft in the center. Each stem bears just 2 leaves per season but may produce offsets over the years. In some species the old leaves persist and form a short column on which new leaves develop. Solitary daisy-like flowers, usually white, yellow, or purple, appear in the cleft.^[3]

Distribution

The entire genus is naturally confined to a relatively small region in the far west of South Africa, known locally as the "Knersvlakte" area. This is a very arid region of winter-rainfall desert and rocky quartzite sands.

Cultivation

Like most succulents, they require extremely well-drained soil, and are damaged by repeated frosts. Their preferred mode of cultivation is a bright and sunny position with gritty free-draining soil. They may be propagated from seed, or careful division of established clumps.^[3]

Selected species

Argyroderma angustipetelum L.Bolus Argyroderma aureum L.Bolus Argyroderma australe L.Bolus Argyroderma blandum L.Bolus Argyroderma boreale L.Bolus Argyroderma braunsii Schwantes Argyroderma brevipes L.Bolus Argyroderma brevitubum L.Bolus Argyroderma carinatum L.Bolus Argyroderma citrinum L.Bolus Argyroderma congregatum L.Bolus Argyroderma crateriforme N.E.Br. Argyroderma cuneatipetalum L.Bolus Argyroderma delaetii C.A.Maass Argyroderma densipetalum L.Bolus Argyroderma duale N.E.Br. Argyroderma fissum L.Bolus Argyroderma formosum L.Bolus Argyroderma gregarium L.Bolus Argyroderma hallii L.Bolus Argyroderma hutchinsonii L.Bolus Argyroderma jacobsenianum Schwantes Argyroderma kleijnhansii L.Bolus Argyroderma latifolium L.Bolus Argyroderma latipetalum L.Bolus Argyroderma leucanthum L.Bolus

Argyroderma litorale L.Bolus Argyroderma longipes L.Bolus Argyroderma luckhoffii L.Bolus Argyroderma margaritae N.E.Br. Argyroderma necopinum N.E.Br. Argyroderma nortieri L.Bolus Argyroderma octophyllum Schwantes Argyroderma orientale L.Bolus Argyroderma ovale L.Bolus Argyroderma patens L.Bolus Argyroderma peersii L.Bolus Argyroderma planum L.Bolus Argyroderma productum L.Bolus Argyroderma pulvinare L.Bolus Argyroderma reniforme L.Bolus Argyroderma ringens L.Bolus Argyroderma rooipanense L.Bolus Argyroderma roseatum N.E.Br. Argyroderma schlechteri Schwantes Argyroderma schuldtii Schwantes ex Jacobsen Argyroderma speciosum L.Bolus Argyroderma splendens L.Bolus Argyroderma strictum L.Bolus Argyroderma subalbum N.E.Br. Argyroderma subrotundum L.Bolus Argyroderma testiculare N.E.Br. Argyroderma theartii van Jaarsv. Argyroderma villetii L.Bolus

List source :^[2]

References

1. Gard. Chron. 1922, Ser. III. lxxi. 92."Plant Name Details for Genus Argyroderma N.E.Br." Check |url= value (help). IPNI. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
2. "Plant Name Query Results for Genus Argyroderma" Check |url= value (help). IPNI. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
3. Lord, Tony (2003). Flora : The Gardener's Bible : More than 20,000 garden plants from around the world. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36435-5.

External links

• Botanica Sistematica