Dalhousie Collection
of Cacti & Other
Succulents
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Current Photo: CD0242

Available Photos: CD0242  CD0272  (click to change photo)

Photographer's Comments: 35mm slide. Note the flat top and small, translucent markings.


Genus: Dinteranthus
Species: vanzylii
Family: Aizoaceae
Authority: (L.Bol.)Schwant. 1951
Variety: -
Date Added: 2003-10-01
Entered By: Paul J. BNrunelle
Taxonomic Synonyms:
Lithops vanzylii L.Bol. 1932
Delosperma vanzylii fa. lineatus H. Jacobsen 1955,
D. vanzylii (L.Bo.) Schwantes var. lineatus (H.Jacob.) H.Jacob. 1970.

Vernacular Names:
Flowering Stone,
Spligt Rock,
Lavender Sking.

Description:
Easily mistaken for a Lithops, which it was originally thought to be and so named, this "Flowering Stone" comes from Bushmanland, Namaqualand and Cape Province in South Africa, home of the majority of the super-succulent Aizoaceae, or "Midday Flowers". This very beautiful, rare species produces a lovely orange-yellow flower in late summer. It differs from Lithops mainly in that its seed capsule is ten-celled and that it has the smallest seeds of the family Aizoaceae. Other differences, not so marked, are the flattish top of each leaf, slightly depressed rift beween leaves and the small, dotted translucent spots on the upper face which are translucent to allow light to enter and react in photosynthesis inside. It grows mainly underground on a large taproot to about 40mm ((ca.1,1/2") diameter, eventually in clumps of up to about four branches of pairs of leaves. In habitat, it grows preferentially in fine sand or gravel among quartz pebbles.
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