{"title":"Conophytum","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"conophytum-quaesitum-var-rostratum","title":"Conophytum quaesitum var. rostratum","description":"\u003cp\u003eSection Saxetana is one of the more well-defined groups within the genus, characterized by wedge-shaped bodies with narrow fissures and a preference to sit half-sunken among quartzite or shale. The section name comes from the Latin “to come from a rock,” and in his Conophytum monograph Dumpling and His Wife, Steven Hammer notes that the choice is “not uniquely apt, but might have seemed so in 1920 when edaphic information was still scarce.” Dormant plants hold a thin papery sheath that splits cleanly when growth begins in early autumn, and the flowers are mostly nocturnal and restrained in color, ranging from white to cream or pale pink. Despite the consistency of the overall outline, the group shows considerable variation, likely tied to its more Namibian-leaning distribution, with the type species C. saxetanum reaching the farthest north. In cultivation these plants are generally cooperative, handle seasonal wrinkling without issue, and have shorter, more predictable dormancy periods than many of the rounder species, though they grow at a slower pace than the upright members of section Biloba.\u003cbr\u003e\nC. quaestitum var. rostratum develops longer, cylindrical bodies with lobes that can reach a substantial portion of the plant’s height. In a relatively short time, plants form firm cushions, though side-heads can be crowded out if not divided. Flowers follow the usual pattern for the group: nocturnal and pleasantly fragrant.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50903088398616,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/varrostratum_cd104624-d87c-43d0-91be-18e27cbc6f73.png?v=1763688767"},{"product_id":"conophytum-hians","title":"Conophytum hians","description":"\u003cp\u003eSection Saxetana is one of the more well-defined groups within the genus, characterized by wedge-shaped bodies with narrow fissures and a preference to sit half-sunken among quartzite or shale. The section name comes from the Latin “to come from a rock,” and in his Conophytum monograph Dumpling and His Wife, Steven Hammer notes that the choice is “not uniquely apt, but might have seemed so in 1920 when edaphic information was still scarce.” Dormant plants hold a thin papery sheath that splits cleanly when growth begins in early autumn, and the flowers are mostly nocturnal and restrained in color, ranging from white to cream or pale pink. Despite the consistency of the overall outline, the group shows considerable variation, likely tied to its more Namibian-leaning distribution, with the type species C. saxetanum reaching the farthest north. In cultivation these plants are generally cooperative, handle seasonal wrinkling without issue, and have shorter, more predictable dormancy periods than many of the rounder species, though they grow at a slower pace than the upright members of section Biloba.\u003cbr\u003e\nConophytum hians is a distinctive species with widely fissured pale grey-green bodies covered in fine trichomes. In habitat it often sits nearly buried in quartzite pans, an indicator of its tolerance for more water than most members of the genus. Flowers appear in autumn, nocturnal and scented, with petal color ranging from white to soft pink or cream. Over time the species forms dense cushions, which can be divided if they begin to destabilize.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50903088431384,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/hians.png?v=1763688691"},{"product_id":"conophytum-quaesitum-clone-1","title":"Conophytum quaesitum Clone 1","description":"\u003cp\u003eSection Saxetana is one of the more well-defined groups within the genus, characterized by wedge-shaped bodies with narrow fissures and a preference to sit half-sunken among quartzite or shale. The section name comes from the Latin “to come from a rock,” and in his Conophytum monograph Dumpling and His Wife, Steven Hammer notes that the choice is “not uniquely apt, but might have seemed so in 1920 when edaphic information was still scarce.” Dormant plants hold a thin papery sheath that splits cleanly when growth begins in early autumn, and the flowers are mostly nocturnal and restrained in color, ranging from white to cream or pale pink. Despite the consistency of the overall outline, the group shows considerable variation, likely tied to its more Namibian-leaning distribution, with the type species C. saxetanum reaching the farthest north. In cultivation these plants are generally cooperative, handle seasonal wrinkling without issue, and have shorter, more predictable dormancy periods than many of the rounder species, though they grow at a slower pace than the upright members of section Biloba.\u003cbr\u003e\nConophytum quaestitum exhibits the classic Saxetana form, producing compact cushions of pale grey-green or yellow-green bodies, sometimes spotless and sometimes evenly maculate. The leaf margins may carry a faint red line in strong light and the flowers open at night in late autumn, heavily scented and typically white or straw yellow. Dense clusters benefit from occasional division to avoid congestion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50903088496920,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/quae1.png?v=1763688579"},{"product_id":"conophytum-quaesitum-clone-2","title":"Conophytum quaesitum Clone 2","description":"\u003cp\u003eSection Saxetana is one of the more well-defined groups within the genus, characterized by wedge-shaped bodies with narrow fissures and a preference to sit half-sunken among quartzite or shale. The section name comes from the Latin “to come from a rock,” and in his Conophytum monograph Dumpling and His Wife, Steven Hammer notes that the choice is “not uniquely apt, but might have seemed so in 1920 when edaphic information was still scarce.” Dormant plants hold a thin papery sheath that splits cleanly when growth begins in early autumn, and the flowers are mostly nocturnal and restrained in color, ranging from white to cream or pale pink. Despite the consistency of the overall outline, the group shows considerable variation, likely tied to its more Namibian-leaning distribution, with the type species C. saxetanum reaching the farthest north. In cultivation these plants are generally cooperative, handle seasonal wrinkling without issue, and have shorter, more predictable dormancy periods than many of the rounder species, though they grow at a slower pace than the upright members of section Biloba.\u003cbr\u003e\nConophytum quaestitum exhibits the classic Saxetana form, producing compact cushions of pale grey-green or yellow-green bodies, sometimes spotless and sometimes evenly maculate. The leaf margins may carry a faint red line in strong light and the flowers open at night in late autumn, heavily scented and typically white or straw yellow. Dense clusters benefit from occasional division to avoid congestion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50903088529688,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/quae2.png?v=1763688519"},{"product_id":"conophytum-christiansenianum","title":"Conophytum christiansenianum","description":"\u003cp\u003eConophytum section Biloba is one of the easiest groups in the genus to recognize, differing enough from nearby relatives that some experts suggest it may represent a more primitive version of the genus versus the classic “sphaeroid” shape. Each leaf pair spends dormancy wrapped in a thin papery sheath that holds next year’s body until it splits, revealing two soft lobes that poke out like rabbit ears from a magician’s hat. They are often floriferous, with bright yellow flowers that make these upright plants stand out even in a crowded Cono collection. Although some common forms of C. bilobum are widespread in cultivation, it is still possible to build an entire collection from the variations in shape, color, and other small details. A trained eye can pick out the differences between species, but even a single locality of one subspecies can hold a surprising range of expression. This group also handles water with more forgiveness and has a shorter dormancy period than the slower dumpling types. \u003cbr\u003e\nConophytum bilobum v. christiansenianum is one of the more robust forms and also one of the more eye-catching thanks to the distinct red keel that tops each leaf. It is a beginner-friendly entry point to the genus and forms a sizable cluster in a relatively short time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50903088595224,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/christiansenianum.png?v=1763688466"},{"product_id":"conophytum-maughanii-sb1495-jakkalswater","title":"Conophytum maughanii ssp. latum SB1495","description":"\u003cp\u003eConophytum maughanii subsp. latum SB1495 (Jakkalswater) has some of the most bodacious proportions in the genus, with a pear-shaped, jelly-like body covered in a fine crystalline coating that gives it the texture of seaglass when it catches the light. It’s a wonder this soft, glowing little plant survives among jagged rocks and gritty quartz sand. In habitat, latum occupies the middle zone of the maughanii complex, especially around Umdaus and the surrounding quartz flats. The Jakkalswater plants are noticeably less pigmented and have a more muted, even look. Like the rest of the group, they stay buried for much of the year and only surface with the first autumn rains. SB1495 was collected by Brack and Hammer in 1986 and noted by Hammer as a “strange tiny form” with very little red compared to most latum. The subspecies differs from typical maughanii by being broader at the base and more truncate at the summit, often with a subtly flattened top that becomes more pronounced with age. In cultivation, it wakes early, settles quickly, and is reliably nocturnal in bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50903088660760,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/latum_5f70f62e-ed2d-4ed9-8881-b64e1cb4a83f.png?v=1763688283"},{"product_id":"conophytum-ectypum-sulcatum","title":"Conophytum ectypum ssp. sulcatum","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost Conophytum are capable of shriveling to conserve moisture during periods of extreme drought, but few seem to have evolved to look permanently shriveled, regardless of how healthy they are. C. ectypum subsp. brownii leans fully embraces this, and may be the Conophytum most spiritually aligned with a raisin. Its brain-like, bumpy surface may function as a form of misdirection, discouraging would-be grazers that might otherwise mistake the plump, mature bodies for something worth eating. This subspecies is known from a single hill near Jakkalswater in the Namaqualand region of South Africa’s winter-rainfall Northern Cape. We allow it a dry summer rest like most Conophytum, during which the tactile rippling remains faintly visible beneath the papery sheath.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Plant Catalog","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51626621010200,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/1175\/9896\/files\/conophytumecytpum.png?v=1769985193"}],"url":"https:\/\/rareplantcatalog.com\/collections\/genus-conophytum.oembed","provider":"Rare Plant Catalog","version":"1.0","type":"link"}