Trichodiadema

Trichodiadema is a genus of succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae. It includes 32 species native to Namibia and the Cape Provinces, Free State, and Northern Provinces of South Africa.^[1]

Trichodiadema
Trichodiadema densum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Aizoaceae
Subfamily:	Ruschioideae
Tribe:	Ruschieae
Genus:	Trichodiadema Schwantes (1926)
Species
See text

The name "Trichodiadema" comes from the ancient Greek "τρῐχός" (hair, bristle) and "διαδεμα" (crown).

Description

Trichodiadema are small, short-stemmed succulents with small, elongated, alternating sections measuring 8 mm long. They are grey and green.

At the apex of each alternating section is a ring of small bristles radiating around the center, that give the appearance of a cactus areola.

The flowers look like daisies, with red, pink or white petals, earning them the nickname "Desert Rose". Two species however, Trichodiadema aureum and Trichodiadema introrsum, have flowers that are yellow.

Cultivation

The plant requires sun exposure (although not too intense), and well-drained soil.

Propagation is by division of the clumps. Propagation by cuttings is difficult, because of the risk of rot.

Trichodiademum densum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[2][3]

List of species

Trichodiadema densum

The flower

Trichodiadema attonsum Schwantes Trichodiadema aureum L.Bolus Trichodiadema barbatum Schwantes Trichodiadema bulbosum Schwantes Trichodiadema burgeri L.Bolus Trichodiadema calvatum L.Bolus Trichodiadema densum Schwantes[4] Trichodiadema emarginatum L.Bolus Trichodiadema fergusoniae L.Bolus Trichodiadema fourcadei L.Bolus Trichodiadema gracile L.Bolus Trichodiadema hallii L.Bolus Trichodiadema hirsutum (Haw.) Stearn Trichodiadema imitans L.Bolus Trichodiadema intonsum Schwantes Trichodiadema introrsum (Hook. f.) Niesler

Trichodiadema littlewoodii L.Bolus Trichodiadema marlothii L.Bolus Trichodiadema mirabile Schwantes Trichodiadema obliquum L.Bolus Trichodiadema occidentale L.Bolus Trichodiadema olivaceum L.Bolus Trichodiadema orientale L.Bolus Trichodiadema peersii L.Bolus Trichodiadema pomeridianum L.Bolus Trichodiadema pygmaeum L.Bolus Trichodiadema rogersiae L.Bolus Trichodiadema rupicola L.Bolus Trichodiadema ryderae L.Bolus Trichodiadema setuliferum Schwantes Trichodiadema stayneri L.Bolus Trichodiadema strumosum L.Bolus