Origin and Habitat: South Africa, Northern Cape (Little Namaqualand)

• Conophytum hirtum Schwantes

• Conophytum hians N.E.Br.
• Conophytum elongatum Schick & Tischer
• Conophytum gothicum Tischer
• Conophytum hians var. acuminatum L. Bolus
• Conophytum hirtum Schwantes
• Conophytum miserum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum parvimarinum L. Bolus

Description: It is a tight dwarf mat forming species. In cultivation it is a fast clumper that produces too many bodies in a rush. This habit persists even with the sparsest watering.
Body (paired leaves): Minute, 5-10(-18) mm large, 3-9 mm thick, and about 2-6 mm tall, ovoid to wedged, shortly bi-lobed above (the fissure is deep and divides the body in two), cylindric below and sharply keeled, pale green, pinkish or grey-green, velvety and slightly pubescent (with Corduroy papillae often in vertical rows). Sheath pale tan, fuzzy, impersistent and often becoming powdery;
Flowers: up to 15 mm long, variable in colour.

Cultivation and Propagation: They are among the easiest species to grow and have the fame to be indestructible but rarely floriferous in cultivation. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy. Water must be given very sparingly or they will become bloated and otherwise their epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, (only occasional misting ), but it will generally grow even in summer if given water. Water regularly in winter after the previous year's leaves have dried up. Requiregood drainage. Keep them cool and shaded in summer, they need full sun or light shade. Hardy to -2°C. Ensure a very good ventilation. Avoid to repot frequently. This plants may stay in the same pot for many years.
Propagation: They can be reproduced both by cuttings and seeds. Take the cutting from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root.