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Rabiea albinota
Will form nice compact tuft, great for small pots.

Traditional uses: Rabiea albinota is a mildly hallucinogenic plant with effects similar to those of Sceletium. It is known by a number of south African tribesmen (especially the Griquas) with the name "S'Keng-Keng"  . The Griquas were known to dry and pulverize the whole plant to use it as a snuff, or to add it to tobacco and smoked to cause state of euphoria.
Reported hallucinogenic effects have not been established under laboratory conditions; however this attribute may be the result of confusion between Sceletium and the similar looking genus Rabiea. A chemical analysis of Rabiea albinota has yet to be accomplished.

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Scientific name:  Rabiea albinota (Haw.) N.E.Br.
In: Gard. Chron. 89, 53 1931

Origin:  Cape Province: Karroo, Free State. South Africa.

Habitat:  Dry open places among rocks on slopes, often in crevices between stones, rainfall mainly in summer (but not only). In fact the plants in habitat shows different growth phases and their appearance can change throughout the year and under different growing conditions. This is one of the reasons why identification in the past proved to be troublesome.

Ecology: The mechanism of seed dispersal is through a higrochastic fruit and the seed is only dispersed in the immediate environment, which results in local small communities.

Synonyms:  

• Mesebrianthemum albinotus Hawoth 1826
• Aloinopsis albinotus (Haw.) Schwantes In: ZSK: 1926: 178
• Nananthus albinotus (Haw.) L.Bolus In: S. Afr. Gard. and Country Life, 17, 399 1927

Etymology: The genus "Rabiea" has been named in honour of the Rev. WA Rabie, Orange Free State, south Africa.
The species name “albinota” comes from the Latìn 'albus', white; and Latin 'nota', mark; for the white spotted leaf surface.

Description: Dwarf,  multi-branching, mat-forming species wit compact Aloe-like succulent rosettes of 4-5 cm pairs of leaves.
Stem: Almost stemless.
Roors: Deep, thick and fleshy. In the younger specimen is present only a central tap-root while the older plants will develop a thick, conspicuous, rhizome or rootstock.
Leaves: Dark green 40-50 mm long, 10-12 mm wide at the broader part, very succulent, firm, spreading diagonally at most (Often erected under dry conditions), opposite, often slightly differing in size, sickle-shaped, triangular in cross-section, upper surface broadening from the base to above the middle, then tappering to a pointed, mucronate apex, the lower leaf surface acinaciform from a brader base, with a distinkt keel, epidermis with numerous tuberculate, prominent, white to dark-purplish dots, often white margined.
Flowers: Daisy-like, yellow, solitary, opening in the afternoon, 4-4,5 cm in diameter, stamens yellow. Pedicel, short with basal bracteoles.
Blooming season: Mainly from late winter through spring but it may flowers occasionally all year round.
Fruit: Breaking off the short and fragile stalk when ripe, base funnel to bell-shaped, top conical/rounded.

NOTE: Several species names are confused and partly redundant (R. albinota for plants with thick low leaves, R. albipuncta for those with thinner ± erect leaves) seem to cover most of the forms. Some wild individuals of both species are densely covered with very striking white spots. Among the several proposed varieties :

Rabiea albinota var. albinota
Rabiea albinota var. longipetala
Rabiea albinota var. microstigma
 

Cultivation: Rabiea are easy and rewarding plants than can be grown in pots or in the rock-garden. They can be watered year-round, water regularly from spring to Autumn but reduce watering frequency in winter, growth period is early Spring to late Summer, but is a very adaptable species that can grows opportunistically whenever the water availability and growing condition are favourable. Keep them cool, and half-shaded in summer, need full sun or light shade on the other seasons. Potted rabieas look best in a heavy soil and the same is true for plants in a rockery. Requires good drainage.
Frost Tolerance: Very frost hardy and grows best where there are cold winters (it is reported to be hardy to at least -18° C if very dry). It is difficult to keep the leaves free of scars and dead leaf-tips, but the abundant flowers hide them.

Propagation: Cuttings or (rarely) seeds

Remarks: R. albinota has a gorgeous, thick root system and when it is potted up, the plant can be progressively raised over the ground so that some of the roots can be seen and is especially cultivated for their looks. Architecturally it is a real stunner. When the "caudex" shape of the raised roots is adequately in evidence this plant is incomparable. They also tend to grow more "heads" when they are raised.

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.