Publication: Notes Mesembryanthemum [H.M.L. Bolus] 2: 378. 1933 [19 May 1933] Notes: Namaqualand
Description
Solitary or sparsely branched succulent that forms tiny mounds of radically unequal bodies.
Body (paired leaves): Leaves up to 30 mm long, 15 mm in diameter, soft to the touch, pulpy, brownish-green, paler towards the margins, half-fused, apex convex to truncate yellowish-green to brown, very finely papillate (sometimes slightly warty), squarish from above, windowed translucent and shining at the apex, fissure zone broad.
Flower: Narrow, occasionally paired, petals white, pink or tan pink
Fruit: The fruit is a 6-locular capsule.
Remarks: This species is best known in cultivation as Ophthalmophyllum australe.
Origin and Habitat
Namaqualand, Vanrhynsdorp, Western Cape, South Africa.
Habitat: Grows on calcrete or quartzite patches in full sun.
Cultivation and Propagation
The Conophytums belonging to the Ophthalmophyllum group are some of the world’s most fascinating plants and are sought by the collector of succulent plants. They grow on winter rain and heads for summer dormancy. They are notoriously difficult to grow because they rot very easily. Paying attention to the particular growing requirement of Ophthalmophyllum is especially important. If you provide the Ophthalmophyllum with the right conditions, they will reward you with their unique shape, size, colour and a proliferation of blooms in autumn. However, Ophthalmophyllum are tricky plants that are very particular about their growing conditions and require the right maintenance in order to keep happy. But don’t be afraid even the best growers have plants that mysteriously dry up, or leave during the night. While Ophthalmophyllum are picky about their care, if you are patient and remember the basics, your efforts will be rewarded. Being small plants, a representative collection can be grown on a patio table, a sunny windowsill or a shelf in the greenhouse.
The growing season in northern hemisphere is from September to March.
Soil: It grows best in sandy-gritty soil and requires good drainage as it it is prone to root rot. It can grows outdoor in sunny, dry, rock crevices (protection against winter wet is required) It can also be cultivated in alpine house, in poor, drained soil.
Repotting: Repotting every year is not recommended. They may stay in the same pot for many years. Plants grown in larger containers have frequently relatively poor flowers. They might improve when the plants are given their own, small individual pots.
Fertilization: Feed it once during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (poor in nitrogen), including all micro nutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. It thrives in poor soils and need a limited supplies of fertilizer to avoid the plants developing excess vegetation, which is easily attacked by fungal diseases.
Watering: The Ophthalmophyllum thrive in dry and desert regions and are able to stand extended periods of drought and require careful watering. Water minimally in summer, (only occasional misting), water more abundantly after the previous year’s leaves have dried up when they are growing in the autumn and spring, but let the soil dry between soaking. Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). If grown in a container, bottom watering by immersing the container is recommended. Ensure a very good ventilation.
Light: It enjoy some shade (avoid direct sun as it grows wild among rocks and under the shade of other plants) and in summer it need to be kept in a cool area.
Hardiness: It prefer a very bright situation and require a minimum temperature 5°C (But will take a light frost and is hardy down to -7° C for short periods if it is in dry soil). USDA zones 9A – 11.
Uses: Container, rock garden.
Pests and diseases: It is vulnerable to mealybugs and rarely scale.
Propagation: It can be reproduced both by seed in autumn or (or rarely) cuttings. Take the cutting from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root and permit to dry out a couple of days, lay it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward. It is relatively difficult to root Ophthalmophyllum from cuttings and generally pointless as well, so quick are they from seed.
Notes
Conophytum/Ophtalmophyllum These plants forms a group within the large genus Conophytum and for a long time they was considered a separate genus, Ophthalmophyllum. Generally the Ophthalmophyllums look like they are formed from glass, ranging in colour from coke-bottle green to brown, to quite reddish. Some of these plants remain solitary, others clump quite readily; some are touchy in cultivation, some grow easily. They all resemble each other and are easy to recognize as a group. They include species such as Conophytum friedrichiae, Conophytum limpidum, the slightly fuzzy Conophytum pubescens, and the clump forming Conophytum praesectum.
From llifle page Ophthalmophyllum australe
Description
Ophthalmophyllum australe (syn: Conophytum caroli) is a small solitary or sparsely branched succulent that forms tiny mounds of radically unequal bodies.
Body (paired leaves): Leaves up to 30 mm long, 15 mm in diameter, soft to the touch, pulpy, brownish-green, paler towards the margins, half-fused, apex convex to truncate yellowish-green to brown, very finely papillate (sometimes slightly warty), squarish from above, windowed translucent and shining at the apex, fissure zone broad. In spring the colour of the old leaves fades, and they shrivel to a thin dry sheath that protects next season’s growth during the summer resting phase.
Flower: Narrow, occasionally paired, petals white, pink or tan pink
Fruit: The fruit is a 6-locular capsule.
Remarks: Ophthalmophyllum australe is a common name used in cultivation for Conophytum caroli Lavis, but they are indubitably the same thing.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/ago/2011
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Heidrun E.K. Hartmann “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae A-E” Springer, 2002
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Gideon Smith u.a. “Mesembs of the World: Illustrated Guide to a Remarkable Succulent Group.” Briza Publications, 1998
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Japan Succulent Society “Colour Encyclopedia of Succulents” Japan Succulent Society January 1, 1981
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Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms, and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae, Volume 1” Blandford Press, 1960
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Werner Rauh “The Wonderful World of Succulents:Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti” Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984
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Steven A. Hammer “The genus Conophytum: a conograph Succulent Plant Publications” 1993
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Steven A. Hammer “Dumpling and his wife: new views of the genus Conophytum” EAE Creative Colour Ltd., 2002
Source: Ophthalmophyllum australe, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-26.
From llifle page Conophytum concordans
Description
Sparsely branched succulent that forms tiny mounds of purple or green grapes. It resembles a
merger of Conophytum caroli and Conophytum limpidum and is highly variable in shape and colour.
Body (paired leaves): Leaves up to 35 mm long, 25 mm in diameter, soft to the touch, half-fused, apex convex to truncate, yellowish-green to brown, finely papillate, windowed translucent and shining at the apex.
Flower: Petals pink to white. Its flowers have the least pronounced tubular bulges of any members of the Derenbergia-Ophthalmophyllum section.
Fruit: The fruit is a 5-6-locular capsule.
Origin and Habitat
Calvinia, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Habitat: Grows in brownish quartz rubble.
Cultivation and Propagation
They are relatively easy to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy. The growing season in northern hemisphere is from September to March. They require little water; otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, (only occasional misting when the plants start shrivelling), but they will generally grow even in summer if given water. Water regularly in winter after the previous year’s leaves have dried up. Require good drainage. They enjoy full sun or half-shade and in summer they need to be kept in a cool area. Hardy to -2°C. Ensure a very good ventilation. Avoid to repot frequently. They may stay in the same pot for many years. Plants grown in larger containers have frequently relatively poor flowers. They might improve when the plants are given their own, small individual pots.
Propagation: They can be reproduced both by cuttings and seeds. Take the cutting from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root.
Source: Conophytum concordans, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Ophthalmophyllum villetii
Description
Sparsely branched succulent that forms tiny mounds of purple or green grapes. It resembles a
merger of Conophytum caroli and Conophytum limpidum and is highly variable in shape and colour.
Body (paired leaves): Leaves up to 35 mm long, 25 mm in diameter, soft to the touch, half-fused, apex convex to truncate, yellowish-green to brown, ?nely papillate, windowed translucent and shining at the apex.
Flower: Petals pink to white. Its ?owers have the least pronounced tubular bulges of any members of the Derenbergia-Ophthalmophyllum section.
Fruit: The fruit is a 5-6-locular capsule.
Source: Ophthalmophyllum villetii, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-26.
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