Cheiridopsis umbrosa

Cheiridopsis umbrosa is a succulent plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis umbrosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Aizoaceae
Genus:	Cheiridopsis
Species:	C. umbrosa
Binomial name
Cheiridopsis umbrosa S.A.Hammer & Desmet

Description

This succulent subshrub becomes loosely clumped with age. It grows to be 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) tall, with a diameter of 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in). The leaves are a pale greenish grey, but they start to tuen red by early summer and eventually die off, regrowing in the next rainy season.^[1]

Long-stalked solitary flowers are present in August and September.^[2] They are yellow in colour and produce a 10-locular fruit.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa from Khurisberg to the east of Concordia.^[3] It is most frequently found growing on damp, shaded gneiss crevices, although it can also rarely be found growing on exposed quartzite.^[2]

Conservation

Cheiridopsis umbrosa is considered to be of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.^[3]