Conophytum marginatum

Conophytum marginatum is a small succulent in the Aizoaceae family. It comes from the Cape region of South Africa. LLIFLE records it in Bushmanland and Namaqualand in the Northern Cape. Kew lists its native range as the western Cape region. Its home lies in desert or dry shrubland. It grows among rocks on slopes rich in quartz. The RHS lists Conophytum karamoepense as a synonym.

This perennial forms low mats or rounded domes through repeated division. A clump may hold between 20 and 100 leaf bodies. Its very short branches sit below the soil surface. Each body consists of a pair of thick, fleshy leaves. Bodies reach about 0.02–0.10 feet [0.005–0.03 metres] tall. This measures each leaf body, not the whole mature clump. Their shapes range from an inverted heart to long cylinders. A cleft divides the top into two lobes. Raised keels help define the edges of each body.

The leaves feel rubbery and range from pale to yellowish green. Some take on a reddish shade. Spots mark their surface, which may be smooth or finely bumpy. Red lines or flushed edges give the species its name. Most of the surface lacks gloss or clear windows. A window may occur near the central cleft. A thin, pale, papery sheath remains around the bodies. Dense tannin marks show on this partly lasting cover.

Single purple, daisy-like flowers appear in autumn and open by day. Each bloom has a clear floral tube. Long, free stamens form a column at its centre. Flowers may remain open after the first few days. The fruit is a capsule with four to six chambers. Its surface can be bumpy and somewhat spongy. Seedlings pass through a long juvenile stage of three to six years. They may first bloom after about three years.

In cultivation, growth peaks from late winter through late spring. The plant tends to rest during summer. Good conditions can allow growth to continue beyond spring. It needs little water and soil that drains well. Too much water can split the skin and leave scars. Poor drainage raises the risk of root rot. Suitable sites include sunny, dry rock cracks with shelter from winter wet. An alpine house offers another growing site with lean, free-draining soil.