Origin and Habitat: Namaqualand (Nigramoep near Springbok), Northern Cape, South Africa.
Habitat: They grows on quartzitic flats.

• Cheiridopsis imitans L. Bolus

Description: Cheiridopsis imitans is a small compact clustered succulent about 10 cm tall and 20-30 cm in diameter, with a well developed, thick hypocotyl-root-stock and markedly heterophyllous. In leaf shape and in particular in the type of heterophylly, Cheiridopsis imitansSN|14653]]SN|14653]] is most similar to Cheiridopsis turbinata, a larger leaved, mat forming species on deeper soils.
Leaves: Red-tinted, angled and keeled, gray-green, up to 5 cm long, apically pointed, mucronate. Keel smooth. Shorter leaves less than one third of long leaves, the shorter leaf-pair persisting and withering in the resting period and form a reddish-brown papery sheath covering the succeeding pair of leaves during dormancy in dry, hot summer. Each succeeding pair of leaves differs from the previous one in form, size, and relative unity of the leaves.
Flower: Daisy-like, bright yellow up to 8 cm in diameter.
Fruit: With a short stalk, bracteoles fused at about one fourth of length, base of capsule bowl-shaped, top conical, valve wings as awns with a broadened base, covering membranes with bulges, up to 50 mm long and 14 mm in diameter.

Bibliography: Major references
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann “Aizoaceae F – Z” Springer, 2002. page 123
2) Sean. Hogan “Flora” Timber Press, 2003. Page 369.

Cultivation and Propagation: Cheiridopsis imitansSN|14653]]SN|14653]] 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.
Soil: Requires good drainage as it it is prone to root rot.
Fertilization: It thrives in poor soils ans 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: Seeds, cuttings. It is easily propagated by seed.