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Gibbaeum

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Genus of succulents

Gibbaeum
Gibbaeum heathii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Gibbaeum
Haw. ex N.E.Br.
Species

21, see text

Gibbaeum is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin gibbosus (hunchback)

Description

Gibbaeum pubescens in natural habitat.

These dwarf succulents are characterized by distinctively asymmetrical pairs of leaves, mostly globular or sometimes thick and arcuate. The sizes of the leaves of each pair are nearly always different. Gibbaeums grow in clumps and produce pink or white flowers in spring.

Distribution

Genus Gibbaeum is predominantly indigenous to the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. A few species extend outside of this region. Three species extend north into the Great Karoo region: Gibbaeum gibbosum, Gibbaeum heathii and Gibbaeum nuciforme. Two extend south into the Overberg region: Gibbaeum esterhuyseniae and Gibbaeum hartmannianum.

Cultivation

Sunny exposure and well drained soil. Their natural range spans the boundary between winter and summer rainfall areas of southern Africa, and their growth period (emergence of new leaves and flowering) is therefore in summer for some species and in winter for other ones. However, overall most species can be watered primarily in winter. Temperature must stay above 10 °C in winter.

Propagation can be done by cuttings or by seeds. Many of the species hybridise easily - with each other and with the related genus Muiria.

List of species

References

  1. "Gibbaeum N. E. Br". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  2. "Gibbaeum Haw. ex N.E.Br". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  3. "On-line Guide to the positive identification of Succulent Plant Families".
  4. "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants".

External links

  • Data related to Gibbaeum at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Gibbaeum at Wikimedia Commons
Taxon identifiers
Gibbaeum


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