Conophytum breve

Conophytum breve is a small South African species of succulent plant of the genus Conophytum.

Conophytum breve
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Aizoaceae
Genus:	Conophytum
Species:	C. breve
Binomial name
Conophytum breve N.E.Br.

Description

Conophytum breve has small, smooth, rounded heads, and offsets to form irregular clumps. The epidermis is a chalky grey to glaucous green, without any spots or markings. It resembles very closely its relative Conophytum calculus, but is much smaller and forms more uneven clusters.

Relatives and distinguishing features

It is closely related to Conophytum pageae, with which it is often conflated. However C. breve is smaller, with more rounded heads and a more grey-green colour. It is also related to the larger species Conophytum calculus (which is much larger) and to Conophytum stevens-jonesianum (which is covered with spots).

Distribution

This species is indigenous to the Namaqualand, in the far west of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

It produces yellow flowers in autumn.^[2][3]