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  Pseudolithos cubiformis
(Syn: Lithocaulon cubiforme)
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P. cubiformis is a odd cube shaped, leathery skinned blob of plant material that don't look like anything else

 

Description:  P. cubiformis is small highly succulent plant. Usually single stemmed. Quite variable in shape, colour and size.
Stem: Up to 12 cm wide and tall, basically cube shaped or with an evident four-sided figure form, tuberculate, leathery skinned, The colour vary from light green (in shaded environments) to clear olive/grey/green (in half sun) or reddish-brown (in full sun).  Old plants with peduncles along some of the edges.
Roots: Fibrous.
Flower: In clusters, with greyish-Green hairy petals with a purple centre. It has the largest flowers in the genus, and like the others: IThe cluster of flowers are fly pollinated and smell like rotting meat.
Blooming season:  Produce shoots and regularly blossoms mainly during the end of the summer in the bottom side of the plants, but may blooms during the year whenever the growing conditions are appropriate.
 

Cultivation:  Relatively easy to grow, but mistakes are costly. If rot sets in, there is practically no time, nor warning, before the plant turns to expensive mush.
It needs regular watering, especially during the hottest summer day, provide also some light watering if the green house temperatures in winter are elevated. Either excessive and very scarce watering can induce rot.
Frost Tolerance:  Winter temperatures must be kept over 10° C. ( But can withstand to winter night temperature around 5° )
Sun Exposure: It take a great advantaged if grown in very strong light but sheltered from full sun.
Cultural Practices: Provide a very good ventilation. It grow quite easily and fast on its own roots. it is not difficult as commonly supposed, but inaccuracies are fatal. If rot starts the plant will almost inevitably die. This plant is a candidate for under-potting, as long as you keep it watered.

 

Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing

 

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Family: Asclepiadaceae (Apocynaceae)  (Milkweeds family)

Scientific Name: Pseudolithos cubiformis

This member of the Asclepiadaceae family was given this name by Peter René Oscar Bally as Lithocaulon cubiforme in 1959, and as Pseudolithos cubiformis in 1965.

Author: Peter René Oscar Bally 1965

Distribution: From North East of Somalia

Habitat: Grows in grit with little water and some sun.

Synonyms: Lithocaulon cubiforme Peter René Oscar Bally 1959


This species is quite variable in shape, colour and size.
 

 


Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

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.