Origin and Habitat: South Africa, Northern Cape (Calvinia) and Western Cape (Clanwilliam, Piquetberg, Vanrhynsdorp, Vredendal)
Habitat: Conophytum obcordellum grows on granite or on Table Mountain Sandstone.

• Conophytum obcordellum (Haw.) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum obcordellum Haw.

• Conophytum obcordellum (Haw.) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum obcordellum Haw.
• Conophytum creperum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum giftbergense Tischer
• Conophytum klaverense N.E.Br.
• Conophytum lambertense Schick & Tischer
• Conophytum lambertense var. conspicuum Rawé
• Conophytum longifissum Tischer
• Conophytum nevillei (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum nevillei N.E.Br.
• Conophytum obconellum (Haw.) Schwantes
• Mesembryanthemum obconellum Haw.
• Conophytum obcordellum f. declinatum (Haw.) N.E.Br.
• Conophytum declinatum L. Bolus
• Conophytum obcordellum var. germanum (N.E.Br.) Rawé
• Conophytum germanum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum obcordellum f. multicolor (Tischer) Tischer
• Conophytum multicolor Tischer
• Conophytum obcordellum var. mundum (N.E.Br.) Rawé
• Conophytum mundum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum obcordellum var. parvipetalum (N.E.Br.) Tischer
• Conophytum parvipetalum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum parvipetalum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum obcordellum f. picturatum (N.E.Br.) Tischer
• Conophytum obcordellum var. mundum f. picturatum (N.E.Br.) Rawé
• Conophytum picturatum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum obcordellum f. stayneri (L. Bolus) Rawé
• Conophytum obcordellum var. mundum f. stayneri (N.E.Br.) Rawé
• Conophytum ursprungianum var. stayneri L. Bolus
• Conophytum parviflorum N.E.Br.
• Conophytum parviflorum var. impressum (Tischer) Tischer
• Conophytum impressum Tischer
• Conophytum spectabile Lavis
• Conophytum ursprungianum Tischer

• Conophytum obcordellum var. ceresianum (L. Bolus) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum ceresianum L. Bolus
• Conophytum ceresianum var. divergens (L. Bolus) Rawé
• Conophytum divergens L. Bolus

• Conophytum obcordellum subs. rolfii (de Boer) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum lambertense var. rolfii (de Boer) Rawé
• Conophytum rolfii de Boer

• Conophytum obcordellum subs. stenandrum (L. Bolus) S.A.Hammer
• Conophytum stenandrum L. Bolus

Description: Conophytum obcordellum is a dwarf succulent species with tiny pancake-shaped bodies marked with few to many dots and lines, these often raised and glossy. It is extremely decorative even without flowers.
Habit: It is variably caespitose, with single or double bodies, or forming dense mats or cushions.
Bodies (paired leaves): Variable bodies, small, pancake-shaped, convex or concave at the apex, about 1 cm in diameter with a small growing cleft that doesn't reach right across the body.
Colours: Silvery-green, variously spotted light or dark brown. The unspotted sides are pink to a deep dark red, while the apex, which is glabrous, medium green, and variably suffused with reddish or dark green dots that are slightly raised, which sometimes join up to make lines and which turn a beautiful bright red during the resting period.
Flowers: Often paired, large with a white, yellow or rich pink-creamy colour with a pale yellow centre. The thin petals form an almost star-like, spidery structure, they are aromatic and very showy.
Blooming season: Blooms mostly in autumn (in cultivation in Europe August-November). The flowers are numerous and open at night.
Fruits: 4-6 locular hygrochastic capsules.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Gordon D. Rowley “The illustrated encyclopedia of succulents” Crown Publishers, 01/Aug/1978
2) 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
3) Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. “Red List of South African Plants.” Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
4) Hammer, S. 1993. “The Genus Conophytum - A Conograph.” Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria.
5) Hammer, S. 2002. “Dumpling and His Wife: New Views of the Genus Conophytum.” East Anglia Engraving Creative Colour Ltd, Norwich, England.
6) Ernst Van Jaarsveld, Ben-Erik Van Wyk, Gideon Smith “Succulents of South Africa: A Guide to the Regional Diversity” Tafelberg Publishers, Limited, 01/lug/2000
7) Heidrun E.K. Hartmann “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae A-E” Springer, 2002
8) Werner Rauh “The Wonderful World of Succulents: Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti” Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984
9) Hermann Jacobsen “Lexicon of Succulent Plants” Littlehampton Book Services Ltd. 1974

Cultivation and Propagation: Conophytum obcordellum is easy to grow. These plants grow on winter rain and head for summer dormancy. More or less dormant in summer. The plant requires little water; otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). Water throughout the year although minimally in summer, (only when the plant starts shrivelling), but it will generally grow even in summer if given water. Water regularly in winter after the previous year's leaves have dried up. Requires good drainage. Keep cool and shaded from hot sun in mid-summer; it needs full sun or light shade in the other seasons. Hardy to -2°C. Ensure a very good ventilation. Avoid to repot frequently. This plant may stay in the same pot for many years. Plants grown in larger containers have frequently relatively poor flowers. It might improve when the plants are given their own, small individual pots.
Propagation: It 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.