Origin and Habitat: South Africa, Northern Cape (Richtersveld, Ploegberg and Eksteenfontein). Extent of occurence less than 500 km².
Altitude range: Around 300 metres above sea level.
Habitat: Cheiridopsis purpureaSN|19684]]SN|19684]] is a rare, range-restricted habitat specialist that grows on granite and quartz outcrops and in crevices of quartzitic bands in sandstone. Major habitat: Succulent Karoo. The population trend is stable and the species is not threatened.

• Cheiridopsis purpurea L. Bolus

• Cheiridopsis purpurea L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis splendens L. Bolus

Description: Cheridopsis purpurea is a small tufted succulent that, when mature, forms large clumps or dwarf shrublets.
Stems: Very short.
Leaves: Opposite joined at the base, fleshy, stout, three-angled and keeled, silvery green with minute green speckles (translucent in backlight) on the underside, about 3,5 cm long, only 1 or 2(-3) pairs per branches with the younger pair that remains joined almost its entire length while the older pair(s) fully opened begins withering to form a thin wrinkled sheath.
Flowers: Solitary, pedicellate and bracteate at the branch tip, brilliant magenta pink up to 3.5 cm in diameter and their size gradually increases in the course of several days after blooming. C. purpurea open and close their flowers each day for a long time in winter to early spring (but occasionally a second flush of flowers appears in June). Flowers start opening around noon and closes up at dusk, but inner petals complete to unfold only after several days, hiding the interior centre in the beginning. The reproductive part of the flowers mature gradually, after a few days when flowers unfold completely in the centre it is possible to see only the outer ring of sterile stamens. The central ring of stamens containing viable pollen start to open only after a few days and the stigma appears later after some more days. It is in fact a fairly common strategy (found in many other plants species) that active stigmas and stamens mature at separate times to prevent self pollination. The stigma is quite elaborate and particularly decorative with very frilly lobes. Staminodes absent.
Fruits: The fruit is a multilocular capsule with awned wings, membranes and large closing bodies.
Remarks: The Cheiridopsis are dormant in summer and grow chiefly from late summer to winter.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann “Aizoaceae A – E” Springer, 2002
2) Gideon Smith “Mesembs of the World: Illustrated Guide to a Remarkable Succulent Group” Briza Publications, 1998
3) H. Herre “The genera of the Mesembryanthemaceae” Tafelberg-Uitgewers Beperk, 1971
4) Hartmann, H.E.K. “Growth forms and leaves in the genus Cheiridopsis” N. E. Br. Cactus & Succulent Journal (U.S.) 60: 168–173. 1998
5) 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
6) Hermann Jacobsen, Vera Higgins “Succulent Plants: Description, Cultivation and Uses of Succulent Plants, Other Than Cacti” Williams and Norgate, Limited, 1935
7) Jacobsen. “Handbook of succulent plants” 1328 1960
8) Barkhuizen, B.P. “Succulents of Southern Africa.” Purnell, Cape Town 1978.
9) Raimondo, D. & Cholo, F. 2008. Cheiridopsis purpurea L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2015.1. Accessed on 2015/12/14
10) Hartmann, H. and Dehn, M. “Monographien der Leipoldtiinae: 7. Monographie der Gattung Cheiridopsis (Mesembryanthemaceae).” Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik 108(4):567-663. 1987.

Cultivation and Propagation: The Cheiridopsis purpureaSN|19684]]SN|19684]] is a "winter" grower which is 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. It can grows outdoor in sunny, dry, rock crevices (protection against winter wet is required) It can also be cultivated in alpine house, in poor, drained soil.
Fertilization: It thrives in poor soils and 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: Seed in spring or cuttings. It is easily propagated by seed.