Accepted Scientific Name: Pseudolithos dodsonianus (Lavranos) Bruyns & Meve
Edwards's Bot. Reg. 52(2): 202. 1995
Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
The small dark purple-black flowers (Corolla 6 mm diam) produced from near the tops of the plants, can be self fertile.
Origin and Habitat: It is a beautiful plant originated from Northern Somalia and Oman
Synonyms:
Common Names include:
CHINESE (中文): 凝蹄閣
JAPANESE (日本語): プセウドリトス・ドドソニアヌス
Description: This minuscule plant, with thin, rough-tubercled, cylindrical stems looks nothing like the other species, it branches from an early age, six months or so, and its fruits (horns) are small but numerous, adorning almost every shoot
Notes: This species together with Pseudolithos caput-viperaeSN|12765]]SN|19399]] and Pseudolithos mccoyiSN|12771]]SN|12771]] are the only freely branching members of the genus. Originally classified as a Caralluma, was transferred into Pseudolithos, as Pseudolithos dodsonianusSN|19399]]SN|12765]] and now again in the genus Anomalluma as Anomalluma dodsoniana because of stem morphology and DNA researches.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Dicotyledons” Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
2) Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms, and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae” Blandford Press, 1960” Timber Press, 18/May/1999
3) Focke Albers, Ulrich Meve “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae: Asclepiadaceae” Volume 4 Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
- The small dark purple-black flowers (Corolla 6 mm diam) produced from near the tops of the plants, can be self fertile. (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Cactus Art Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Cactus Art Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Cactus Art Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: K.k. Agrawal Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: K.k. Agrawal Anomalluma dodsoniana (Pseudolithos dodsonianus) Photo by: Cactus Art Cultivation and Propagation: Although not easy to grow, it is nonetheless easier and quicker growing than the others Pseudolithos and grows quite well in a greenhouse, it enjoy surprising amounts of water when they're growing. They need a very fast draining soil and protection from cold and damp, but doesn’t like to get bone dry, even in winter, when plants must receive regular light watering, this species is comparatively quite frost resistant, but the minimum temperature must not lower below 0° C (anyway it can tolerate occasional light frost for short period), with adequate water supply this species can flower all the winter long . They come well from seed, do reasonably well in cultivation if given the right conditions. Since they're slow growing branching plants they can stay for many years in a small container
But they remain quite expensive rarities.