''Conophytum ficiforme'' is a small

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

n species of succulent plant of the genus ''

Conophytum ''Conophytum'' is a genus of South African and Namibian succulent plants that belong to the family Aizoaceae. The name is derived from the Latin ''conus'' (cone) and Greek ''phytum'' (plant). The plants are also known as knopies (buttons in ...

''.

Description

1 Conophytum ficiforme - worcester acilliers

The name ''"ficiforme"'' is Latin for ''"fig-shaped"'', and refers to the shape of their bodies, which is raised, globose and keeled. In addition, they can be distinguished from most other ''

s'' by the distinctive dots, which clearly form angular, (horseshoe-shaped) lines over their heads. They have pale pink flowers.

Distribution

It is indigenous to the

Robertson Karoo Robertson Karoo is a semi-arid vegetation type, restricted to sections of the Breede River Valley, Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is a subtype of Succulent Karoo (geographically an extension of the "Little Karoo") and is characterised by ...

vegetation of the

Breede River Valley Breede River Valley is a region of Western Cape Province, South Africa known for being the largest fruit and wine producing valley in the Western Cape, as well as South Africa's leading race-horse breeding area. It is part of the Boland borderin ...

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

. It is especially common in the mountains north of Worcester as well as in McGregor, south of Robertson and in Bonnievale. Their habitat is rocky crevices and outcrops, where they form clumps in sheltered or partially shaded positions. They receive rainfall primarily in the winter. In the summer they go into dormancy in dry leaf sheathes.

Relatives and distinguishing features

''C. ficiforme'' is closely related to several smaller species which occur to the east of its distribution. ''

Conophytum piluliforme ''Conophytum piluliforme'' is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus ''Conophytum''. Description Small, mat-forming succulent. The obconical, flattened, "pill-shaped" ("piluliforme") head is small (less than 5mm across t ...

'' occurs in the Little Karoo to the east, but has smaller (less than 5 mm x 5 mm), obconical, flattened, "pill-shaped" ("piluliforme") heads, with few or no spots. The widespread ''

Conophytum truncatum ''Conophytum truncatum'' is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus ''Conophytum''. Description ''Conophytum truncatum'' can be distinguished from its closest relatives by its truncated, flattened heads, with small fiss ...

'' grows throughout the Little Karoo, but has strongly flattened, truncated bodies, and spots that are scattered randomly (not in lines). The rarer species ''

Conophytum joubertii ''Conophytum'' is a genus of South African and Namibian succulent plants that belong to the family Aizoaceae. The name is derived from the Latin ''conus'' (cone) and Greek ''phytum'' (plant). The plants are also known as knopies (buttons in ...

'' also has smaller (less than 5 mm x 5 mm), more convex or cylindrical shaped heads, but has cream or white flowers. File:1 Conophytum ficiforme in cultivation.jpg, Typical keeled, "fig-shaped" heads of ''Conophytum ficiforme'' File:Conophytum piluliforme 1.jpg, Typical circular, "pill-shaped" heads of ''

'' File:2 Conophytum truncatum - S Oudtshoorn - 1.jpg, Typical flat, "truncated" heads of ''

Description

Distribution

Relatives and distinguishing features

References

Further reading