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Soapstone Fingers: The Ruschia Group, The Bergeranthus Group & Mesembryanthemoideae

by Steven A Hammer

Proposed volume

In this volume

Ruschia Group

Acrodon

Astridia

Marlothistella

Ebracteola

Khadia

Ruschia

Bergeranthus Group

Machairophyllum

Hereroa

Rhombophyllum

Bijlia

Mesembryanthemoideae

Phyllobolus

Sceletium

Dactylopsis

For future volumes

Ruschia Group

Arenifera

Polymita

Stayneria

most of Ruschia

Bergeranthus Group

Bergeranthus

Carruanthus

Cerochlamys

Mesembryanthemoideae

Aptenia

Aridaria

Mesembryanthemum

Platythyra

Prenia

Synaptophyllum

Brownanthus

Pseudobrownanthus

Psilocaulon

Aspazoma

These three natural (but wholly independent) groupings are combined here to fill out a list of some 65 taxa worthy of cultivation. The genus Ruschia proper should be separately treated, once it is sorted out. Of the 250 species in the genus, about 40 are horticulturally important. Sceletium attracts wide attention for its narcotic properties, the stunning Dactylopsis for its fleeting presence in collections (its one of the trickiest to cultivate). Bijlia sits perched like carved soapstone, and the fat fingers of Phyllobolus sprout from caudices.