Dinteranthus inexpectatus aka Dinteranthus Inexpectatus

Dinteranthus inexpectatus is a small succulent in the Aizoaceae family. It comes from Namibia, with records from the Warmbad area. Kew lists it as a succulent subshrub of dry regions. It grows on quartz hills, tucked beneath quartz stones. Rain falls there in autumn. Its pale, rounded body suits this stony setting.

Most plants have just one pair of thick leaves. Some form small groups instead. Each pair makes a rounded, egg-like body above the ground. The leaves stand about 0.08–0.15 feet [0.025–0.045 metres] high. They can reach 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] across. Their smooth skin has no hairs or dots. The colour ranges from milky white to grey, sometimes with pink. The leaves join for more than half their length. A gap separates their upper parts. During dry spells, they close into a more rounded shape. Small keels near the gap can be hard to see.

The flowers are deep yellow, sometimes with a reddish tint. They span about 0.05–0.15 feet [0.015–0.045 metres]. Each flower has eight sepals and six to eight stigmas. The fruit forms a capsule with seven or eight chambers. LLIFLE places flowering in autumn in its growing guidance. The flower colour contrasts with the pale leaves.

Grow this plant in a gritty mix that drains fast. Use little compost, with coarse sand, gravel, or similar mineral material. Give it strong light, but guard against harsh summer sun. LLIFLE describes summer growth and a dry winter rest. Shelter outdoor plants from winter rain and wet soil. A sunny, dry rock crevice can suit it. An alpine house offers another setting. Keep winter temperatures above 41°F [5°C] where possible. LLIFLE reports brief survival down to about 19°F [−7°C] in dry soil. It lists USDA zones 9a–11.

Its small size suits pots and collections of succulents. Small individual pots may give better flowering than large containers. Plants can remain in one pot for years. Growth is slow, and care can be demanding. Rich feeding can cause excess growth that is prone to fungal disease. Seedlings also face damping off. Propagation uses very small seeds or division of older clumps. The supplied evidence gives no basis for judging edibility or toxicity.