GLOTTIPHYLLUM PEERSII LMolm - A Plant for all Seasons

摘要

If there is room for only one Glottiphyllum on a rockery or in a greenhouse the choice will be between G.nelii or G.peersii. My choice would be G.peersii, Within the genus it has many unique features. Two colonies are within easy reach of my home at Klaarstroom and what follows is the result of 15 years of observation. While some of the bigger leaved Glottiphyllums will try to take over your greenhouse, peersii will grow to the size of 330mm. and then stop. The limited root system cannot support further growth unless over watered. If over watered the plant will die in the first year. It occurs in widely separated patches in dense stands from Klaarstroom to Willowmore town. This is on the north side of the Swartberge and the occurrence is limited tothe Southern Karoo. It grows only in very alkaline soil and although G.nelii occur nearby they prefer different soil conditions and hybridization does not occur. The Southern Karoo gets summer and winter rainfall and the plants on my rockery are wateredonce a month by rainfall or spray.