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Adromischus festivus
It is absolutely adorable.
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Description: Dwarf succulent, up to 7 cm tall,
leaves 2.5 to 5 cm long. Form groups of stems.
Stem: Knobbly, stout very short, prostrate, with sparse branching. Older
plants develop a massive caudex or large swollen area near the ground.
Stems lacks root-hairs (unlike A. cristatus)
Roots: Fibrous roots
Leaves: Fat, glabrous, small semi cylindrical, more or less
mottled with dark green to red based on the exhibition of the plant to
the light. Juvenile leaves can be broad with a long margin.
Flowers: Very small, sessile, white-cream or pinkish with violet
tones, dusty looking, on a 25-60cm tall inflorescence.
Fruit: Fruit a dry many seeded follicle.
Since this species has highly variable in leaf
markings and colour, it is worth collecting many forms.
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Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop
Family)
Scientific name: Adromiscus
festivus C.A. Smith
Section: 5 Longipedunculati
Origin: South Africa (High up on mountains in the Eastern
Cape, Noorsveld)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Names include: Plover eggs, Knuppelplakkie
Synonyms:
- Adromiscus cooperi (Bak.) A.
Berger
- Cotyledon cooperi
- Adromischus pachylophus C.A.
Smith
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Cultivation:
They prefer well-drained soil in a partially shaded position and require
a minimum temperature 5°C (But hardy down to -7°C for short periods),
with good drainage and dryness in winter to resist the cold. Let the
soil dry between soaking, in the wild, it receives rain mostly in spring
and fall. Must have very dry atmosphere. They are vulnerable to
mealybugs
and rarely
scale. It
is prone to rotting from the tuberous base or from dried inflorescences.
As the plant matures, the centre becomes bare. When it does, restart it
from side cuttings and throw away the central part.
Propagation:
Usually propagate from single leaves (leaf
cuttings)
or stem cuttings seed propagation is rarely used.
Twist off a leaf and permit it to dry out a couple of days, lay
it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. The
original leaf should not be removed until it has dried up. Try to keep
the leaf somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward.
If grown in a container, bottom watering by immersing the container is
recommended.
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