Conophytum truncatum
| Light | Bright, filtered light; a little direct sun in the cooler parts of the day |
|---|---|
| Water | Autumn to spring only; keep dry through the summer dormancy (see Watering) |
| Soil | Very free-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Frost-free; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed and division of clumps (see Propagation — seed, Propagation — offsets) |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats or dogs |
Conophytum truncatum is a small, clump-forming member of the Conophytum genus, easily recognised by its flattened (truncate) tops — often, though not always, finely dotted — and its faintly scented, night-opening flowers. Reliable, forgiving of a little rough handling and quick to form generous cushions, it is often recommended as one of the easiest "cones" for anyone new to these dwarf South African succulents.
Description
Conophytum truncatum is built from pairs of fused leaves that form small, obconic to bun-shaped bodies, each with a flat or gently domed top. The upper surface is pale to bluish green and frequently speckled with darker translucent dots or fine lines, and a slit across the top marks where the flower emerges; the species is notably variable, however, ranging from nearly unmarked green bodies to heavily spotted or lined forms. Individual bodies are only a centimetre or two across, but the plant offsets freely, so an established specimen builds up into a tight, low mound of many heads.
Flowers appear in autumn and are one of the species' chief pleasures: small, usually pale yellow to whitish (sometimes pinkish) and — unusually for the genus — opening in the evening with a soft, faint scent that attracts night-flying pollinators, chiefly moths. As with all conos, each pair of leaves lasts a single growing season, drying to a papery sheath that protects the new body forming inside.
Distribution and habitat
Unusually for the genus, C. truncatum is a plant of the southern Cape: it is centred on the Little Karoo and its surrounds, ranging from around Montagu and Robertson in the west as far east as the Springbokvlakte–Steytlerville area, which makes it the easternmost member of the genus. Growth is driven mainly by cool-season rainfall. An obligate rock-dweller, it grows on shale or quartzite outcrops — typically east-, south- or west-facing rather than the hottest north-facing slopes — often tucked into crevices among mosses and lichens, where it endures hot, dry summers by shrinking down into its papery sheaths and waiting for the cooler, moister months.
Conservation
Although it can be locally abundant, forming mounds of many hundreds of heads, C. truncatum has been assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and the genus as a whole has suffered heavily from illegal wild collection. Conophytum are protected under CITES, so plants for cultivation should be nursery-propagated rather than wild-collected.
Cultivation
This is a winter-grower, and getting the seasonal rhythm right is the whole game. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a shallow pot, in bright light with protection from the fiercest summer sun. Begin watering as the weather cools in late summer or early autumn, when the new bodies swell and shed their old sheaths, and continue through the growing season whenever the mix has dried out. Taper off in spring and keep the plant essentially dry through its summer dormancy — an occasional light misting on the coolest days is plenty. Overwatering, and especially watering during summer rest, is the usual cause of loss. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Because C. truncatum is tolerant and vigorous, it forgives minor lapses better than many fussier conos, which is exactly why it is such a good starter species.
Propagation
The species is easily raised from seed sown on a fine mineral surface in autumn and kept humid and cool until germination — see Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough. Because it clumps so readily, established plants can also be lifted and divided: separate a rooted section or a cluster of heads at the start of the growing season and pot it up in the same gritty mix. See Propagation — offsets for handling divisions.
Common problems
- Rot — nearly always from watering during the summer dormancy or from a mix that holds too much moisture; heads go soft and translucent.
- Failure to shed — kept too dry at the wrong time, old sheaths can smother the new bodies; gentle watering at the start of the season usually resolves it.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the bodies stretch and lose their neat flat tops.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the heads and at the roots) and the occasional spider mite; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Conophytum — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets