Adromischus cristatus var. schonlandii Photo by: Giuseppe Distefano
Origin and Habitat: Adromischus cristatusSN|134]]SN|134]] var. schonlandii (A. schonlandii) occurs in protected spots in the Langkloof and Baviaanskloof west of Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is known from fewer than five subpopulations.
altitude: Around 250–500 metres above sea level
Habitat: It is a rare habitat specialist that grows on sheltered and shaded granite outcrops and on vertical quartzitic sandstone cliff faces in Albany Thicket and Succulent Karoo. Summers are hot and dry, the average daily maximum temperature is about 27°C and the average daily minimum temperature about 12°C. The winters are cooler but frost is a rarity or absent. Rainfall occurs mainly in summer and winter, about 400–500 mm per annum. Associated cliff dwellers include: Cyrtanthus flammosus, Aloe pictifoliaSN|29330]]SN|29330]], Cotyledon tomentosaSN|27065]]SN|27065]], Crassula perforataSN|21901]]SN|21901]] subsp. kougaensis, Gasteria glomerataSN|16659]]SN|16659]], Haworthia gracilisSN|21283]]SN|15017]] var. picturata, Haworthia viscosaSN|15017]]SN|21283]], Othonna lobataSN|35344]]SN|35344]] and Plectranthus verticillatus. The species is not threatened due to the inaccessibility of its habitat.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Adromischus cristatus
Common Names include:
CHINESE (中文): 神想曲
Description: Adromischus cristatusSN|134]]SN|134]] var. schonlandii is a dwarf succulent plant generally smaller than the standard Adromischus cristatusSN|134]]SN|134]] distinguished by the apical horny margin narrower than the leaf width, plus glandular hairs on the inflorescence and flowers.
Habit: It has few rosettes on short stems wrapped in a thick coat of reddish, tangled, wiry, hairlike aerial roots. It is quite variable.
Roots: Fibrous.
Stems: Erect 2-4 cm tall, covered with aerial roots and glandular hairs on stem.
Leaves: Up to 35 mm long, 5-20 mm across reversed-triangular to oblong-elliptic, terete to somewhat dorsiventrally compressed, green to grey-green usually lacking nice leaf markings. Ridge at tip of leaves horny, not wavy, often darker, narrower than broadest point on leaf, base wedge-shaped to petiolate. Sometimes covered with glandular hairs.
Inflorescence: Spike-like thyrse with 1-flowered cyme 10-20 cm high, grey-green, with glandular hairs.
Flowers: Buds terete, slightly grooved, gradually tapered towards tip, erect at first, later spreading. Flowers 1-1,2 cm, calyx 1,5-3 mm long, grey-green, with glandular hairs, corolla-lobes 2-1,5 mm wide, ovate-triangular, acute,white tinged pink, with darker margin, spreading or recurved, rough and with club-shaped hairs mainly in throat. Anthers 0,6-0,9 mm long, not protruding from corolla-tube. Squamae about square, 1-1,2 mm long and broad. Pedicels 1-2 mm long.
Adromischus cristatusSN|134]]SN|134]] var. cristatus: is much-branched about 4 cm tall, has red aerial roots and red hairs on the stem, and reversed-triangular leaves, which have much-broadened undulated margins at the tip.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Adromischus cristatus group
Adromischus cristatus Lem.: (var. cristatus) has ridge at tip of leaf constitutes broadest point of leaf. Leaf-blade 1-1,5 times longer than breadth of apical ridge, leaves reversed-triangular. Distribution: Eastern cape.- Adromischus cristatus var. clavifolius (Haw.) Toelken: has leaves 2-5 times longer than breadth of apical ridge, reversed-triangular to club-shaped, hairless nearly so. Distribution: Alexandria, Grahamstown and East London (Cape Province).
- Adromischus cristatus var. mzimvubuensis van Jaarsv.: has felted leaves covered with fine glandular hairs. Distribution: Mzimvubu River, Eastern Cape.
- Adromischus cristatus var. schonlandii (E.Phillips) Toelken: has stems 2-4 cm long, covered with aerial roots. Ridge at tip of leaves narrower than broadest point on leaf, inflorescence with glandular hairs.
- Adromischus cristatus var. zeyheri (Harv.) Toelken: has stems 4-8 cm long, without aerial roots, covered with glandular hairs. Distribution: Baviaanskloof , Eastern Cape.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) John Pilbeam, Chris Rodgerson, Derek Tribble “Adromischus” Cirio Publishing Services Ltd, 1998
2) Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms, and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae,” Volume 1 Blandford Press, 1960
3) Doreen Court “Succulent Flora of Southern Africa” CRC Press, 01/Jun/2000
4) Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms, and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae” Volume 1 Blandford Press, 1960
5) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae” Springer for Science, 01/Jan/2003
6) 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/Aug/2011
7) J.P. Roux “Flora of South Africa“ 2003
8) Helme, N.A. 2006. Adromischus cristatus (Haw.) Lem. var. schonlandii (E.Phillips) Toelken. National Assessment: “Red List of South African Plants” version 2013.1. Accessed on 2014/05/10
9) Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M.C. (eds). 2006. “The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.” Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
10) Van Jaarsveld. E.J. 2011. “Cremnophilous succulents of southern Africa: diversity, structure and adaptations.” Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences(Department of Plant Science). Unpublished thesis. University of Preto
Cultivation and Propagation: Adromischus cristatusSN|134]]SN|134]] is a fairly easy succulent to grow and one of the easier Adromischus speciest.
Growth rate: Adromischus cristatusSN|134]]SN|134]] is a popular, fast growing species.
Soil: It prefer well-drained soil.
Repotting: Repot every other years. All species of this genus are happy in small pots.
Exposure: It grows best in a partially shaded position. It got sunburned if exposed to midday sun.
Hardiness: Require a minimum temperature 5°C (But hardy down to -7°C for short periods), with good drainage and dryness in winter to resist the cold.
Watering: It takes more water than cacti, but let the soil dry between soaking, in the wild, it receives rain mostly in spring and fall. Must have very dry atmosphere. Water less in winter but do not allow it to shrivel.
Pest & disease: It is vulnerable to mealybugs and rarely scale. It is prone to rotting from the tuberous base or from dried inflorescences.
Maintenance: As the plant matures, the centre becomes bare. When it does, restart it from side cuttings and throw away the central part.
Propagation: Usually propagate from single leaves (leaf cuttings) or stem cuttings seed propagation is rarely used. Leaves easily root and produce new plants. Twist off a leaf and permit it to dry out a couple of days, lay it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. The original leaf should not be removed until it has dried up. Try to keep the leaf somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward. If grown in a container, bottom watering by immersing the container is recommended.
