''Conophytum piluliforme'' 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''.

Description

Conophytum piriforme - Tower Hill Botanic Garden

Small, mat-forming succulent. The obconical, flattened, "pill-shaped" ("piluliforme") head is small (less than 5mm across the fissure) and has sparse or no lines on it. Flowers are red, purple or maroon. ''Conophytum piluliforme'' subspecies ''edwardii'' differs in having a more keeled body shape.

Distribution and habitat

This species is indigenous to the far western corner of the

Little Karoo The Karoo ( ; from the Afrikaans borrowing of the South Khoekhoe !Orakobab or Khoemana word ''ǃ’Aukarob'' "Hardveld") is a semi- desert natural region of South Africa. No exact definition of what constitutes the Karoo is available, so its ...

region, in the

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 occurs around Montagu, Barrydale, and as far as Ladismith in the east. They grow primarily in the winter, when rainfall swell them. After flowering, they go into dormancy through the summer, when they are covered in a dry papery sheath. They inhabit extremely well-drained soil, in spots protected by rocks or bushes. They split and crack if they receive too much water.

Relatives and distinguishing features

It is closely related to its neighbouring 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 ...

'' which is a similar small size (less than 5 mm x 5 mm), but has a more convex or cylindrical shape to its bodies, and has cream or white flowers. 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 and co-occurs with ''C. piluliforme''. ''Conophytum truncatum'' has more strongly flattened, truncated bodies, and spots that are scattered randomly (not in lines). The larger ''

Conophytum ficiforme ''Conophytum ficiforme'' is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus ''Conophytum''. Description The name ''"ficiforme"'' is Latin for ''"fig-shaped"'', and refers to the shape of their bodies, which is raised, globose and ...

'' occurs in the Breede River valley just to the west, but has globose, keeled, "fig-shaped" ("ficiforme") bodies, with spots in angular, horseshoe-shaped lines. File:2 Conophytum truncatum - S Oudtshoorn - 1.jpg, Typical heads of ''

'' File:1 Conophytum ficiforme in cultivation.jpg, Typical heads of ''

Description

Distribution and habitat

Relatives and distinguishing features

References

Further reading