Gibbaeum

{{Short description|Genus of succulents}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Gibbaeum heathii.jpg

|image_caption = Gibbaeum heathii

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Gibbaeum

|authority = Haw. ex N.E.Br.{{Catalogue of Life | id= 634FF|option=taxon |title=Gibbaeum N. E. Br.|access-date=8 March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:16194-1 |title=Gibbaeum Haw. ex N.E.Br. |author= |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=March 8, 2022}}

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = 21, see text

}}

Gibbaeum is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa.

The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin gibbosus (hunchback)

Description

File:Gibbaeum pubescens AnysbergPICT1438.jpg in natural habitat.]]

These dwarf succulents are characterized by distinctively asymmetrical pairs of leaves, mostly globular or sometimes thick and arcuate. The sizes of the leaves of each pair are nearly always different. Gibbaeums grow in clumps and produce pink or white flowers in spring.{{cite web | url=http://www.succulentguide.com/cactus/?genus=Gibbaeum | title=On-line Guide to the positive identification of Succulent Plant Families }}{{Cite web|url=http://redlist.sanbi.org/genus.php?genus=114|title = Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants}}

Distribution

Genus Gibbaeum is predominantly indigenous to the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. A few species extend outside of this region. Three species extend north into the Great Karoo region: Gibbaeum gibbosum, Gibbaeum heathii and Gibbaeum nuciforme. Two extend south into the Overberg region: Gibbaeum esterhuyseniae and Gibbaeum hartmannianum.

Cultivation

Sunny exposure and well drained soil. Their natural range spans the boundary between winter and summer rainfall areas of southern Africa, and their growth period (emergence of new leaves and flowering) is therefore in summer for some species and in winter for other ones. However, overall most species can be watered primarily in winter. Temperature must stay above 10 °C in winter.

Propagation can be done by cuttings or by seeds. Many of the species hybridise easily - with each other and with the related genus Muiria.

List of species

File:Z Gibbaeum album growing among rocks - RSA.jpg|Gibbaeum album

File:Gibbaeum dispar IMG 2483.jpg|Gibbaeum dispar

File:Gibbaeum geminum - SBG 2.jpg|Gibbaeum geminum

File:4 Gibbaeum gibbosum -Touwsrivier - Copy.jpg|Gibbaeum gibbosum

File:5 Gibbaeum hartmannianum - Overberg Malgas - Copy.jpg|Gibbaeum hartmannianum

File:Gibbaeum heathii varieties.jpg|Gibbaeum heathii forms

File:Gibbaeum velutinum barrydale.jpg|Gibbaeum velutinum

File:6 Gibbaeum petrense Brandvlei Rd - Copy.jpg|Gibbaeum petrense

File:Gibbaeum pubescens - N Barrydale 2.jpg|Gibbaeum pubescens

File:1 Gibbaeum shandii - Kirstenbosch gardens.jpg|Gibbaeum pubescens var. shandii

File:Gibbaeum schwantesii IMG 1568.jpg|Gibbaeum schwantesii

File:Gibbaeum pilosulum in cultivation - cape town.jpg|Gibbaeum pilosulum

File:Gibbaeum nuciforme.jpg|Gibbaeum nuciforme

File:Gibbaeum nebrownii.jpg|Gibbaeum nebrownii

References

{{Reflist}}