Cephalophyllum kliprandense
Cheiridopsis parvibracteata

Cephalophyllum parvibracteatum is native from South Africa, where is widespread in Northern and Eastern Cape province. Its habitat are the shrublands, with deep or shallow soils coming from bedrocks of sandstone, gneiss, calcrete or siltstone.

Cephalophyllum parvibracteatum is a little, perennial plant which form short maps, more or less 5 centimeters tall. It nearly hasn’t got branches: internodes are not visible and also the trunk is short and very stumpy. Leaves are cylindrical, succulent, bright green with a reddish point. Flowers are solitary, bright yellow, have a diameter of 4 centimeters more or less, and they bloom in winter.

Cephalophyllum parvibracteatum is easy to cultivate and doesn’t have particular necessities. Its natural climate has raining winters, with a lowest temperature of 5-10ºC and hot, dry summers, with highest temperature of 30-35ºC, so try to maintain a temperature above 5-6ºC. This plant should be put in a bright spot to grow properly: it likes sunlight. Repotting is often necessary because the plant develops horizontaly, and actually the best way to cultivate is as a groundcover, instead of inside pots. The substrate should be well draining and not too much fertil because this plant is used to poor soils. Water Cephalophyllum parvibracteatum every 3-4 days, waiting until the soil is completely dry before each watering.

Propagation is easy and is made though branch cutting. Once cut, the branch should be planted in a humid substrate and left in a shaded position until it roots.

The name “Cephalophyllum” comes from the Greek words, “Cephalos”, which means “head”, and “Phyllon”, leaf, referring to the weird, compact shape of the bushes of its leaves.