Cheiridopsis
| Light | Bright light; full sun in cooler months, some shade from fierce summer heat |
|---|---|
| Water | Winter grower — water in the cool season, keep dry through summer dormancy |
| Soil | Very free-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Frost-tender; keep above freezing, USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed and division of clumps |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats or dogs |
Cheiridopsis is a genus of clumping, dwarf leaf-succulents in the ice-plant family Aizoaceae, native to the winter-rainfall regions of western South Africa and southern Namibia. The plants form low mounds of paired, keeled, blue-grey leaves that are often united at the base and — in many species — sheathed by the dried, papery remains of the previous season's leaves, a trait that has earned them the common name lobster claws. Large, daisy-like yellow or white flowers appear in the cool season, making them rewarding members of the broad group of succulents known collectively as mesembs.
Description
Cheiridopsis are small, tufted succulents that build up into clumps over time. The leaves are borne in opposite pairs, are usually keeled or three-sided (semi-cylindrical to boat-shaped), and range in colour from soft blue-grey to grey-green, frequently with a fine waxy bloom and sometimes tiny translucent dots near the tips. In many species the pair of leaves is fused for part of its length, and successive leaf pairs are set at right angles to one another.
A distinctive feature of the genus is the way old leaves dry into a thin, papery sheath that wraps and protects the new growth through the hot, dry summer. When growth resumes in autumn the fresh leaves push out of this sheath. Flowers are solitary and showy for the plant's size — typically yellow, cream or white, occasionally with pinkish or coppery tones — opening in the afternoon over several days. The small woody fruit is a hygrochastic capsule that opens when wetted, releasing seed into rain.
Distribution and habitat
The genus is centred on the arid winter-rainfall zone of the western Cape and Namaqualand in South Africa, extending north into southern Namibia. Plants grow in open, stony ground — quartz fields, gravelly flats and rocky slopes — where they endure long, hot, dry summers and receive most of their moisture as winter rain and coastal fog. The papery leaf sheaths and heavy waxy bloom are adaptations to this harsh, bright, seasonally dry habitat.
Notable species
- Cheiridopsis candidissima — grey-white keeled leaves and large white to pale-yellow flowers.
- Cheiridopsis denticulata — robust, boat-shaped grey leaves; a widespread and easily grown species.
- Cheiridopsis peculiaris — unusual, with a flat pair of leaves clasping the ground and a taller pair above; a favourite of collectors.
- Cheiridopsis purpurea — compact clumps with purple to magenta flowers, unusual in a mostly yellow-flowered genus.
- Cheiridopsis pillansii — very glaucous, chunky leaves forming neat mounds.
Cultivation
Cheiridopsis are among the more forgiving mesembs, but they must be grown on a winter-rainfall rhythm to do well. Pot them in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and give the brightest light available — full sun in the cool months keeps the plants compact and encourages flowering. Water in autumn, winter and spring while the plants are in active growth, letting the mix dry between waterings, then keep them largely dry through the heat of summer when they rest. During dormancy the old leaves shrivel into their protective sheaths; this is normal and should not prompt watering.
The commonest cause of loss is overwatering, especially warm water sitting around the roots in summer — this leads to rot. Good airflow, a snug pot and a gritty surface all help. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the primary method and is easy: sow the fine seed on a mineral surface in autumn, keep it lightly moist and warm, and germination usually follows quickly. Established clumps can also be divided, with each rooted division potted separately; allow cut surfaces to dry before replanting. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for detail.
Hobby and cultivar notes
Cheiridopsis are popular with mesemb enthusiasts for their tidy clumping habit, glaucous leaves and generous cool-season flowers, and they tend to be easier for beginners than many of their relatives such as Lithops or Conophytum. Few named cultivars exist; the interest lies mostly in species selection and in the natural variation of leaf colour, shape and flower tone between and within populations.
See also
- Aizoaceae — the ice-plant family
- Mesembs · Conophytum · Lithops
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Repotting