Origin and Habitat: South Africa, Eastern Cape ( around Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, and near Aberdeen, Graaff Reinet, Willowmore in the Great Karoo)
Habitat: It grows on withered sandstone and on exposed shale ridges with big, round stones.

• Rhombophyllum dolabriforme (L.) Schwantes
• Hereroa dolabriformis (L.) L. Bolus
• Mesembryanthemum dolabriforme L.

Description: Rhombophyllum dolabriformeSN|14654]]SN|14654]] are low semi-shrub richly branching at their tips. Tufted when young the plants slowly grow out into densely branched, low mound up to 30 cm tall at maturity.
Branches: Erect, pointed upwards and outwards, the inner thick old branches becoming leafless with age.
Leaves: Growing upright about 2,5-3 cm long, vertically flattened, upper surface narrowly tapered. lower surface with a narrow and axe-like 'chin' and tooth-like tip, mid-green to dark green, with translucent dots , wax layer thin, few platelets.
Flowers: Daisy-like, up to 4 cm in diameter, mostly solitary, bracteoles acuminate, carpel 5, petals very numerous, thin, golden yellow often tinged with red on the back. The flowers open in the afternoon.
Blooming season: It blooms for many months, beginning in mid-spring.
Fruit: With a broad, flat closing body.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann (2002) “Aizoaceae F – Z” Springer.
2) Jacobsen “Handbook of succulent plants” (1974)
3) Herre “The genera of the Mesembryanthemaceae” (1971)
4) Jacobsen “Lexicon of succulent plants” (1974)
5) The Wonderful World of Succulents:
6) Werner Rauh (1984) “Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti” Smithsonian Institution Press
7) Stuart Max Walters (1989) "European Garden Flora: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-Of-Doors and Under Glass - Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae" Cambridge University Press, 1989

Cultivation and Propagation: Rhombophyllum is a genus that require very little maintenance. In cultivation the Rhombophyllum do very well with the spring summer growing period during which they will be watered frequently and heads for winter dormancy. If you provide the Rhombophyllum with the right conditions, they will reward you with their unique shape, and a proliferation of blooms in spring and summer. Being small plants, a representative collection can be grown on a patio table or a shelf in the greenhouse. Inside they grow fine on windowsills, and will even bloom, if they get enough direct sunlight.
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate.
Soil: They need a soil with less organic material; extra pumice or perlite with good drainage. An excellent drainage is essential to these type of plants.
Repotting: Make sure to repot during its more active period, starting in spring.
Watering: Although they are succulent they need plenty of water but will rot if waterlogged. Treating them like other succulents with limited watering will cause their untimely death. During the winter they can be watered less often, about every 2-4 weeks. Nearly all problems occur as a result poor ventilation, especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. They must have dry atmosphere.
Fertilization: Fertilizing this plant really isn't needed as it's already a voracious grower. However, a liquid 10-10-10 diluted to half strength or a cactus fertilizer once a month during spring and summer can benefit the plant.
Exposure: They prefer a very bright situation and in winter they need the maximum amount of light you are able to give them, but keep more cool and partially shaded in summer. Outdoor they prefer full sun, with some shade in the hottest summer months. Plants in pots prefer light afternoon shade in hottest summer days.
Hardiness: This species is remarkably cold-hardy and can easily survive a light frost if protected. Zones 6-11 (depending on clone and growing conditions). It can be planted out of doors in temperate rock-gardens. They seems to enjoy a hot, full sun position in the rockery.
Pests and diseases: They are vulnerable to mealy bugs and rarely scale.
Plant Uses: Border, container, edging, filler, ground cover, pot plant, rock garden, stabilize banks. The plants also attracts bees, butterflies and other insects
Propagation: Plants are easy to grow from cuttings. Dry out the cut before planting shallowly in well drained, sandy or gritty soil. Cuttings root readily and can form a groundcover within a short period, but seeds are also an options. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21° C. If they start to rot there is usually part of the plant that can be removed and possibly rooted.