Origin and Habitat: Knersvlakte nearVanrhynsdorp, Western Cape, South Africs.
Habitat: Argyroderma fissumSN|825]]SN|825]] forms dense patches on white quartz gravel and occupies deeper soils. Other succulent plants in the region include sickle aloe (Aloe falcata), the beesmelkbos (Euphorbia hamataSN|25134]]SN|25134]]), clumps of Dactylopsis digitataSN|33873]]SN|33873]], painted button (Conophytum obcordellumSN|22076]]SN|16149]]), and Conophytum pillansiiSN|16149]]SN|22076]]. The population trend is stable.

• Argyroderma fissum (Haw.) L. Bolus
• Mesembryanthemum fissum Haw.

• Argyroderma fissum (Haw.) L. Bolus
• Mesembryanthemum fissum Haw.
• Argyroderma braunsii (Schwantes) Schwantes
• Cheiridopsis braunsii
• Roodia braunsii (Schwantes) Schwantes
• Argyroderma brevipes (Schltr.) L. Bolus
• Mesembryanthemum brevipes Schltr.
• Roodia brevipes (Schltr.) L. Bolus
• Argyroderma digitifolium (N.E.Br.) Schwantes ex L. Bolus
• Roodia digitifolia N.E.Br.
• Argyroderma hutchinsonii L. Bolus
• Argyroderma latipetalum L. Bolus
• Argyroderma latipetalum var. longitubum L. Bolus
• Argyroderma litorale L. Bolus
• Argyroderma orientale L. Bolus
• Argyroderma socium (N.E.Br.)
• Mesembryanthemum socium N.E.Br.
• Ruschia socia (N.E.Br.) Schwantes

Description: Argyroderma fissumSN|825]]SN|825]] is a miniature clump-forming perennial succulent less than 20 cm in height with age up to 30 cm (or more) in diameter, that can form huge mats of bluish-green finger-like leaves which are quite different to the silver-grey, split-egg plant body found in the rest of the genus. The flowers are solitary magenta with a white centre, but also yellow, pink, or red.
Derivation of specific name: Latin “fissus”, cleft or split, for the gaping leaves of a pair.
Stem: Short, prostrate when old.
Leaves: Reduced to a single pair, (1,5)5-10 cm long, 8-12 mm wide, finger-like, half-cylindrical (sometimes cylindrical at the base), spreading, firm and highly succulent, about 2-4 times longer than broad, rounded at the tip, flattened or convex on the upper side, lacking a cartilaginous edge, and often hooded; green, bluish green to whitish grey and often reddish at the tip. Surface smooth.
Flowers: Solitary, protruding from between the leaves, 30-40 mm in diameter, yellow, pink, purple or red with a white centre. Flower-stalk to 4 cm long.
Blooming season: Its flowers are produced in midwinter.
Fruit: 12-18 locular capsule.
Blooming season: Its flowers are produced in summer.
Taxonomic note: Argyroderma fissumSN|825]]SN|825]] is the only species species of the subgenus Roodia, which is less specialised than the rest of the genus and is considered by Hartmann to be primitive.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann“Aizoaceae A – E” Springer (2001)
2) Ernst Van Jaarsveld, Ben-Erik Van Wyk, Gideon Smith “Succulents of South Africa: A Guide to the Regional Diversity” Tafelberg, 2000
3) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer Science & Business Media, 29 June 2013
4) Christopher Brickell “RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers” Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 01 set 2010
5) Burgoyne, P.M. 2006. Argyroderma fissum (Haw.) L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2015.1. Accessed on 2015/11/29
6) John Manning “Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland” Struik Nature, 2009
7) John C. Manning “Namaqualand” Briza, 01 January 2009
8) Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 32: 13 1981
9) “Flowering plants of southern Africa” 2: t. 78 1922
10) 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” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug./2011

Cultivation and Propagation: Argyroderma is easy to grow. Argyroderma are more forgiving than Lithops of excess water (though it should be rarely given in summer) and thrive in light winter rains in temperate climates and were heading for summer dormancy.
Soil requirements: It needs a very draining mineral, rather acidic, substrate. A mixture comprising 20 % pumice grit, 20% lava grit, 20% quartz grit, 20% coarse river sand and 20 % garden soil seems well suited.
Water needs: Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water minimally in summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling. But be careful with watering (rot sensitive).
Fertilization: Fertilize moderately during the growing season with diluted high potassium fertilizer.
Hardiness: It is fairly cold resistant and hardy to -5°C (or less if dry) depending on the clone.
Exposure: Need full sun, (with insufficient illumination bodies get thinner as a result of the lack of sun) but keep cool and shaded in summer,
Propagation: Seeds or division of larger clumps. Argyroderma is very easy to start from seed. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21°C. Although they will start from cuttings, it is quite difficult to get them to root. If they start to rot there is usually part of the plant that can be removed and possibly rooted.