Origin and Habitat: Western Cape, South Africa.

• Cheiridopsis cigarettifera (A.Berger) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum cigarettiferum A.Berger

• Cheiridopsis namaquensis (Sond.) H.E.K.Hartmann
• Mesembryanthemum namaquense Sond.
• Cheiridopsis breachiae L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis brevis var. L.Bolus
• Cheiridopsis cigarettifera (A.Berger) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum cigarettiferum A.Berger
• Cheiridopsis curta L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis difforme N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum difforme Thunb. non L.
• Cheiridopsis duplesii L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis framesii L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis hutchinsonii L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis intrusa L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis latifolia L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis longipes L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis luckhoffii L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis marlothii N.E.Br.
• Cheiridopsis quaternifolia L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis scabra L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis scabra var. fera (L. Bolus) H.Jacobsen
• Cheiridopsis scabra f. fera L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis serrulata L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis subalba L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis tenuifolia L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis vesca (N.E.Br.)
• Mesembryanthemum vescum N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum exiguum N.E.Br.

Description: Mat forming stemless succulent 15-30 cm in diameter and 10 cm high.
Leaves: Narrow, tapering, keeled, up to 5 cm long whitish-grey in colour. This colouring intensifies in summer, while during the winter rains the plants become greener. This species is called "cigarettifera" ( cigatte-making) because the leaves that are developed after flowering are more slender, close together, fused for about a third of their length and remain erect during the resting period, when the young leaves are hidden in dry sheaths of the old leaves remembering a cluster of cigarettes.
Flowers: Bright yellow up to 4 cm in diameter.
Blooming seson: Spring.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures.
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann “Aizoaceae F-Z” Springer, 2002
2) 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 - Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae” Cambridge University Press, 11/ago/2011
3) Hermann Jacobsen, Vera Higgins “Succulent Plants: Description, Cultivation and Uses of Succulent Plants, Other Than Cacti” Williams and Norgate, Limited, 1935

Cultivation and Propagation: Cheiridopsis is a "winter" grower which are most active from late winter until later spring and heading for summer dormancy, but in favourable growing conditions it keeps going over the summer too and doesn't need particular care. It is relatively easy to grow.
Soil: 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.
Fertilization: It thrives in poor soils and seems sensitive to an excess of potassium.
Watering: Water minimally in summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling, water more abundantly when they are growing in the autumn and spring. Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars).
Light: It needs a bright sunny or light shade exposure in winter, but keep cool and shaded in summer.
Hardiness: It prefer a very bright situation and will take a light frost (Hardy to -5°C) if it is in dry soil. USDA zones 9A-11.
Uses: Container, rock garden.
Propagation: Seed in spring or (or rarely) cuttings. It is easily propagated by seed.