Cotyledon cuneata
C. cuneata at Ecca Pass
Photo © by Alexander de Gouveya at inaturalist.org
Cotyledon cuneata was described byThunberg in 1794 as Adromischus cuneatus. Later on it was placed in Cotyledon.
This is a low growing species with large wedge shaped leaves and yellow flowers from the drier regions of the Western Karoo and the Little Karoo.
You should be careful with watering.
This species can be confused with some green forms of C. orbiculata or even C. barbeyi. Both these species usually grow taller while C. cuneata remains rather low. And having yellow flowers of a different shape than yellow C. barbeyi forms.
Its flowers are very similar to C. campanulata from the Eastern Cape but the leaves are much larger.
c. cuneata at Bakensrug, SA
Photo © Dewidine at inaturalist.org
Plant shape
C. cuneata forms a short shrub no higher than 30cm. It has rather large leaves (up to 17cm long) of a blueish-green colour with a cuneate base : the leaf tapers down like a wedge where it is attached to the stem. There is a very short petiole. In most forms the leaf is glabrous.
The top margin can be wavy and often has a prominent red margin.
C. cuneata flower.
Photo © by Kevin Jolliffe on inaturalist.org
Flowers
The inflorescence is erect between 20-80cm. It may feel sticky.
the flower pedicels are short, about 1.5cm.
The calyx lobes are triangular, 5mm long, yellow. The corollla is yellow and sticky.
The corolla tube is short, 6-10mm, the corolla lobes are spreading to reflexed, longer than the tube, about 1.8cm long. The stamens are exerted and yellow in colour.
C. cuneata is related to C. campanulata and that shows in almost similar flowers.
Variability
C. cuneata doesn't have any described variaties or subspecies.
Where
C. cuneta occurs in the Western and Southern Great Karoo. Found on rocky ridges in full sun.
More pics
C. cuneata , Central Karoo, SA.
Photo © by Markgrtdixon on inaturalist.org