Mesembryanthemum orpenii
Prepodesma orpenii
Nananthus orpenii
Nananthus tersa
Rabiea tersa

This plant is native from South Africa, it lives in dry habitats from 1300 to 1500 meters of altitude above sea level.

Aloinopsis orpanii forms creeping bushes 3-5 centimeters high. Its succulent leaves are arranged in rosettes and they have the shape of a hull, they are glaucous greenish, with scattered spots all along their surface and a red one at their top. The scales are very small and this make the leaves very beautiful. Flowers develop at the top of a stem which is taller than the map of rosettes, and they have a tuft of yellow narrow petals which make them really attractive.

Aloinopsis orpanii is not difficult to grow. The tips for its cultivation are the same to the ones given for the other plants of Aloinopsis genus. It needs bright light except during the hottest hours of the day. Water it once a week during the summer and every 2-3 weeks in the other seasons. Its substrate should be well-drained: a cactus mix could suit it needings. Aloinopsis is a genus of dwarf plants, so repotting is seldom necessary. This plant can survive to minimum temperatures of -4ºC, but it’s actually better to keep them indoors in winter.

Propagation can be made either by cuttings or by seeds. Seeding should be done in dry substrate. Cuttings can be taken from the many rosettes of the plant, especially where the roots emerge.

The name of the genus Aloinopsis means “aloe-like”, as similarities can be seen with some dwarf species of Aloe.