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Glottiphytllum pygmaeum
It produces wonderful small growing green or purple tongue-like round leaves.
The flowers are a very cheerful yellow daisy flower.
 

Description: The G. pygmaeum is dwarf form of G. nelii, often confused with G. neilii. It is a compact, rambling succulent with up to 5 branches (or more with age). It is dormant in high summer heat, and dormant in the darkness of a cold winter, but otherwise happy to grow whenever it is watered. The dimension varies from 15 cm tall and 30 cm in diameter in the standard form to only a few cm in diameter and height in the “pygmaeus” form (but often more in cultivation). Given insufficient light and too much water, they grow into great sprawling masses of fat, bright green leaves. Given a very bright position, the leaves are dark green, almost black at times, with red and purple. There are indeed marked differences in sizes of leaf and flowers in plants from different population and also the growing condition (especially sun exposure and water availability) determine conspicuous differences in habit of cultivate specimens.
Stem: Almost stem less or very short stemmed.
Leaves: The plant produces several, distichous leaves  in 2 to 4 (or more)  ranks on each branch. They are soft, dark green, glossy to waxy grey.  Leaves have rounded, rarely sharp, edges dotted with dark rounded idioblast. They are succulent and very juicy in texture, reminiscent of gummy bears, in full sun they assume a purplish colouring
Fruit: Persisting in the center of the plant.
Flowers: Long-lived, yellow, daisy-like and very showy.
Blooming season (Europe):  Late summer-autumn.
 

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Glottiphyllum pygmaeum L. Bolus 1933

Accepted scientific name:  Glottiphyllum nelii Schwantes 1928
 
Origin:  South Africa (Little Karoo: Oudtshoorn)
 

Habitat: They grow in rocks under bushes or in open. The soisl incorporate slate, sandstone and (mostly) quartz. Rainfall in their native areas is between 100 and 200 mm, especially in March and November. Some plant in habitat have scars or burst in their skins, just like they do at home.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Names include: Tounge-Leaf

Etymology: Thegenus name is from the ancient Greek "γλωττίς" (glottis) , Tongue, and "φύλλον" (Phyllon), leaf, The name implies "shaped as a tongue" .
The species name name "pygmaea" derives from the Latin name “pygmaeus” which means “dwarf” and refers to the very deminute dimension of this plant. ( The specific name implies: "very dwarf").

Synonyms:

• Glottiphyllum pallens L. Bolus 1933

Cultivation: The plants in this genus represent some of the more easily cultivated succulent species. Their main growth period is in late winter and were heading for spring-summer dormancy, but they do best with at least a little water all year. Requires little water otherwise their epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water moderately from the middle of summer to the end of winter, and keep the compost almost dry when the plants are dormant. Water minimally in spring and summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling (, but they will generally grow even in summer if given water) In areas prone to frost, grow in an intermediate greenhouse or conservatory, in pots of cactus compost, obtainable from good garden centres. Keep cool and shaded in summer, but provide maximum light the rest of the year. However there are two ways to grow glottiphyllums: The first is to let nature take her course, which means giving them large pots and copious water; they will burgeon into enormous masses of glistening green leaves. The other is to starve them into svelteness by hot summer droughts, small pots, and firm loam. The results can be very attractive. In any case it is best to treat them as late winter growers. Soft leaves mean easy to damage.

Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. Seeds can be sown in early to mid-spring and germinated in heated humid environment. Alternatively, use stem cuttings taken towards the end of summer in an heated propagating case (15-21°C)

Note: The 50 or so species of this South African genus of succulents are so similar that many may be hybrids.

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.