Bijlia tugwelliae

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

	*Bijlia tugwelliae*	CACTUS ART NURSERY Cultivation and Mail Sale of Cacti and Succulents.


Bijlia tugwelliae Gamka It is one of the more attractive iceplants from S Africa notable for its big leaves and for the show of long-lasting bright yellow flowers in winter.

.


Cultivation: *Bijlia* is easy to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and were heading for summer dormancy. Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling but will generally grow even in summer if given water. Requires good drainage. Keep cool and shaded in summer, need full sun or light shade. Hardy to -2°C Propagation: Seeds, cuttings. Advertising

Family: Mesebrianthemaceae (Aizoaceae)

Scientific name: Bijlia tugwelliae (L. Bolus) S. A. Hammer 1995

Origin: South Africa, northern mountains of Little Karoo desert, Prince Albert.

Habitat: Habitat I grows in gravelly flat areas, Stones: broken quartzite and dolerite.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Names include: Prince Albert Vygie.

Etymology: This rare plants genus takes its name from Mrs. Deborah van der Bijl. The species has been named in honour of Mrs. Anna M. Tugwell plant collector in Republic of South Africa.

Synonyms:

Mesembryanthemum tugwelliae L.Bolusu 1915
Juttadinteria tugwelliae (L.Bolus) Schwantes 1926
Hereroa tugwelliae (L.Bolus) L.Bolus 1930
Cylindrophyllum tugwelliae

Description: Nicely clumping perennial that forms succulent mats. It is closely related to Hereroa.
Leaves: In 2 to 3 pairs in each stems, 6-9 cm long, up to 10 mm broad, about 24 mm in diameter, fleshy, smooth relatively stiff, hard to the touch, upright, finger-like tubular-falcate to laterally compressed, keeled, almost crescent shaped, sometime paddle-form, pale whitish, yellowish-green, blue-green to pinkish, waxen with a thick layers of crystals in the outer epidermis wall. Every year a few new leaves grow from the central stem.
Flowers: 1-3 on a short stalk, long lasting, pale tan, white to bright yellow up to 5 cm broad, petal about 20-22 mm long in two series, with green glands. Stamens in an erected bundle.
Blooming season: Flowers usually in late winter, but sometime in autumn too.
Fruit: Big ovate deeply seated between the leaves, opening completely, 5-locular.
Seeds: Light brow, testa ± raised, 0,75 to 0,85 mm long and 0,5 to 0,6 mm broad..

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.