Fenestraria rhopalophylla

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Fenestraria rhopalophylla.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   cacti-succulent

Height: 4 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 4. to 6 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 6.
Width: 6 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 6. to 10 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 10.
Lifespan: perennial
Origin: S Africa
Bloom: early spring, mid spring, late spring, early winter, mid winter, late winter
Cultivation
Exposure: part-sun
Water: dry
Features: flowers
Minimum Temp: 32°F273.15 K <br />0 °C <br />491.67 °R <br />
USDA Zones: 8 to 11
Flower features: orange, yellow
Scientific Names

Aizoaceae >

Fenestraria >

rhopalophylla >


Fenestraria rhopalophylla is an unusual plant from the deserts of South Africa. Each leaf has a translucent window at the tip, where sunlight is filtered to enable photosynthesis throughout the leaf. Grows to 2 inches tall.

Fenestraria is a monotypic genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae. The species is also called babies toes or window plant. On each leaf there is transparent window-like area at the top, it is for these window-like structures that the genus is named (Latin: fenestra). In the wild, the plant grows mostly buried by sand. The transparent tips are often above the sand and allow light into the leaves for photosynthesis. F. rhopalophylla is native to Namibia and Namaqualand in southern Africa. The plants are generally found growing in sandy or calciferous soils under low < 100 mm rainfall.

F. rhopalophylla appears very similar to Frithia pulchra, though the leaves are a slightly different shape and F. rhopalophylla has yellow flowers, compared to the pink flowers of F. pulchra.

Cultivation

Will not tolerate water-logged soils. Provide bright light. Hardy to 32°F. Water thoroughly when soil is dry.

Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Varieties

Subspecies:

  • F. rhopalophylla subsp. rhopalophylla
  • F. rhopalophylla subsp. aurantiaca (=*F. aurantiaca)

Gallery

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References

External links