Cotyledon papillaris
C. papillaris is often a ground hugging plant
Cotyledon papillaris is a small ground hugging species widespread in the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape.
It grows on flat soil and in rock crevices.
c. papillaris 007 with flat blueish leaves
Plant shape
C. papillaris has short many branched stems. In most forms they grow along the ground. .
The leaves can usually rounded cylindrical with an abrupt pointed end (mucro). Other forms have more flat leaves. The tip or the edge can have a dark coloured edge. They are between 1-3cm long. The base leaf colour is green to blueish green.
The name papillaris refers to the papillae that may occur on the leaf surface in some forms.
C. papillaris 007 flower
Flowers
The inflorescence is about 15 to 20cm long and ends in a 4-5 branched thyrse. The peduncle is about 2-3cm long. The corolla tube is very short, only 5-8mm.
The flowers are rather small, 1.5cm long and just as wide.
The calyx lobes are pointed triangular, 2-4mm long, blueish-white.
The corollla lobes are longer than the tube, about 1-1.2mm long. They are recurved and spread widely or are completely reflexed. The lobes have a yellow green base colour with few or many elongated wine red spots.
The stamens are dark in colour.
Variability
C. papillaris is quite variable but doesn't have any described variaties or subspecies.
Where
C. papillaris occurs in a wide range from the Northern Cape south through the Western and Eastern Cape.
More pics
C. papillaris , JAA346, Klipbok, Richtersveld, a form with cylindrical leaves and a mucronate leaf tip