Cheiridopsis speciosa is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae (the ice plant family), native to the winter-rainfall region of South Africa.
Description
Cheiridopsis speciosa is a robust, clump-forming subshrub that grows up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall and can spread to a diameter of up to 30 cm (12 in). The leaves are pale grey-green in color, fleshy and finger-like, fused at the base and separating like two diverging thumbs higher up. They are lightly keeled, faintly spotted, and have crimped margins. Each leaf pair can reach up to 43 mm (1.7 in) in length and about 10 mm (0.4 in) in width.
During the hot, dry summer conditions, the leaves wither and form a dry protective sheath around the central growing point. In the fall, a new pair of leaves emerges from the slit between the old leaves, breaking through the sheath.
Flowers
Flowers appear between August and September (in the Southern Hemisphere) or December to February (in Northern Hemisphere cultivation). They are solitary, daisy-like, and open during the day, closing at night. The petals range from carmine to coppery, often with magenta centers, though pure golden forms occur rarely. The anthers are pale yellow. Open flowers can reach up to 6 cm (2.3 in) in diameter, with up to 100 petals and up to 200 stamens.
Fruit
The fruit is a rounded, 10-locular (10-chambered) capsule, 9–15 mm (0.35–0.6 in) in diameter. The capsules open only after rain, revealing a 10-pointed star shape, allowing raindrops to splash out the tiny seeds. When dry conditions return, the capsules close again.
Distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa, where it grows in the dry habitats of Namaqualand. It is found on quartzite outcrops and flats between Lekkersing, Vlakmyn, and Spitskloof. The area receives only about 77 mm (3 in) of annual rainfall, mostly in winter, with dry summers.
Conservation
Cheiridopsis speciosa is assessed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
Cultivation
The plant thrives in Mediterranean-climate gardens with plenty of sun and well-drained conditions. It does not tolerate high summer humidity or excessive summer rainfall. In colder or wetter climates, it should be grown in a greenhouse or indoors. It is suited to USDA hardiness zones 9–11.
Taxonomy
The species was described by the South African botanist Louisa Bolus. Synonyms include Cheiridopsis comptonii L.Bolus and Cheiridopsis comptonii L.Bolus ex Jacobsen.
