Origin and Habitat: Vanrhynsdorp, Western Cape, South Africa.
Altitude range: 870-1050 metres above sea level.
Habitat: Grows on granite or gneiss domes in crevices or among crushed rocks or on quartz substrate, often with moss. Often grows along Lithops.

• Conophytum pellucidum subs. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum cupreatum Tischer

• Conophytum pellucidum subs. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum cupreatum Tischer
• Conophytum astylum L. Bolus
• Conophytum meridianum L. Bolus
• Conophytum meridianum var. pulverulentum L. Bolus

• Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes
• Mesembryanthemum pellucidum (Schwantes) N.E.Br. ex hort.
• Conophytum areolatum Littlew.
• Conophytum elegans N.E.Br.
• Conophytum fenestratum Schwantes
• Conophytum pardicolor Tischer
• Conophytum pellucidum marlothii (N.E.Br.)
• Lithops marlothii N.E.Br.
• Ophthalmophyllum marlothii (N.E.Br.) Schwantes

• Conophytum pellucidum var. lilianum (Littlew.) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum lilianum Littlew.

• Conophytum pellucidum var. terrestre (Tischer) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum terrestre Tischer

• Conophytum pellucidum var. terricolor (Tischer) Littlew. ex S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum terricolor Tischer

Description: Conophytum pellucidumSN|22646]]SN|22646]] subs. cupreatum is a tiny, rock-like, perennial succulent with very beautiful coppery-brown bodies with lines and spots. It branches profusely forming compact mat less than 1-2 cm tall. The bodies resemble minuscule Lithops and show the best colouration when given ample light and a clay soil.
Stem: Stem-less (internodes invisible) or very short and forming rhizomatous branches at soil level.
Body (Paired leaves): 10-20 mm tall and 6-12 mm in diameter, cylindric to turbiniform (inverse conical), apex of the pair fused, not lobed, convex, never bullate, glabrous or finely papillate, coppery-brown with lines and spots, with green to brown windows often with rusty island
Flowers: White to pink, unshented, filamentous staminodes yellow to red forming a tube.
Blooming season: They tend to flower early, often in midsummer or early autumn. They are short-day plant (flowers only when day length is less than 12 hours.)
Fruit: Small, tan coloured usually 4-locular.

Notes: The conical shaped bodies of Conophytum pellucidumSN|22646]]SN|22646]] do not easily absorb sunlight, but have translucent window parts in the top surface that allow sunlight to be captured and utilized even when the plant are at the soil level or retracted below the surface of the soil. This is an interesting evolutionary adaptation to overcome this light problem; their leaves are a simple optical system that permits light striking the windows to be diffused onto the green, photosynthesizing surface situated underground. So, with a minimum of exposure to the outside environment, a maximum area of photosynthetic tissue is ensured.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Alfred Byrd Graf “Hortica: a color cyclopedia of garden flora in all climates and indoor plants” Roehrs Co., 1992
2) Heidrun E.K. Hartmann “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae A-E” Springer, 2002
3) Gideon Smith u.a. “Mesembs of the World: Illustrated Guide to a Remarkable Succulent Group.” Briza Publications, 1998
4) Japan Succulent Society “Colour Encyclopedia of Succulents” Japan Succulent Society January 1, 1981
5) Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms, and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae, Volume 1” Blandford Press, 1960
6) Werner Rauh “The Wonderful World of Succulents:Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti” Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984
7) 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
8) Steven A. Hammer “Dumpling and his wife: new views of the genus Conophytum” EAE Creative Colour Ltd., 2002
9)Burgoyne, P.M. 2006. Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes subsp. cupreatum. National Assessment: "Red List of South African Plants" version 2014.1. Accessed on 2014/07/17

Cultivation and Propagation: Conophytum pellucidumSN|22646]]SN|22646]] and its varieties are among the most popular of this genus but relatively difficult to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy. The growing season in northern hemisphere is from September to March. During this period they can be lightly watered about once a week or (better) misted every day and will become plump. In Africa, the mist from morning fog provides moisture. Otherwise their epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, (only occasional misting). Start watering again in autum 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. Seed must be sown in the spring or summer. The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after the first or second year they should be big enough to separate and be planted into their own pots. Take the cutting from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root.