
Adromischus marianae var. immaculatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
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: Adromischus marianaeSN|15181]]SN|15181]] var. immaculatus } is one of the innumerable morphological and geographical variant of the very variable Adromischus marianaeSN|15181]]SN|15181]] ). It distinguishes for the cylindrical leaves, but with great variation in marking and texture. This species is highly variable and individuals may be very different one to each other even within the same population. Cultivated plants can be reliably distinguished only when seeds or details of wild source are available.
Habit: It is a much-branched small perennial leaf succulent, with thick stems, occasionally continued in fat fibrous roots.
Stem: Short, thick ascending often constricted at the base.
Leaves: 3-9 cm long, arranged in a spiral on the main stem, oblanceolate or sometime elliptic (rarely obovate), slightly concave on both sides to terete, more-or-less verrucose (or smooth) and never purple-spotted, with an often brown or white raised and horny margin.
Inflorescence: Spike-like thyrse with 1-flowered cyme 10-25 cm high, grey-green.
Flowers: Buds terete, slightly grooved. gradually tapered towards tip, erect at first. later spreading. Flowers 1-1,2 cm long, upright, with 5 fused petals pale pink to white, with a thick bloom. Corolla-lobes 2-3 mm long, acute, spreading or recurved, white with purple margins, rough and with club-shaped hairs mainly in throat. Anthers not protruding from corolla tube.
Seeds: Very small.
- Adromischus geyeri Hutchison: has terete, chalky, mottled reddish-brown, grey-green leaves with a rounded tip. The horny margin is often not visible at the tip. Distribution: South Namibia. Diamond Area No.1.
Adromischus marianae (Marloth) A.Berger: (var. marianiae) has grey to reddish darker markings along the leaves. It has the longest margin along the top edge of each leaf of any other variety. Distribution: Cederberg around Clanwilliam.
Adromischus marianae f. alveolatus (Hutchison) Pilbeam: similar to f. herrei but with leaves which are shorter less acute, generally more robust, and with a very rough surface. Distribution: north of Concordia.
- Adromischus marianae var. antidorcatum (Poelln.) Pilbeam: has a a rough leaf surface similar to A. marianiae "immaculatus". Includes forms with short leaves. it is very variable. Distribution: Namaqualand, West. & South Bushmanland.
Adromischus marianae var. hallii (Hutchison) Toelken: has the broadest, thickest leaves within the A. marianiae complex. Leaves are chalky, grey-green but red spotted forms have been found. Distribution: South Namibia, North & West Bushmanland.
Adromischus marianae f. herrei (W.F.Barker) Pilbeam: has the roughest leaves and can resemble dried raisins! It is a small plant, characterised by petiolate leaves, thin stems and thin inflorescences. Distribution: Namaqualand coastal mountains.
Adromischus marianae var. immaculatus Uitewaal: has cylindrical leaves, but with great variation in marking and texture. It usually has slighly rough leaves. Distribution: South Namaqualand, Knersvlakte.
Adromischus marianae var. kubusensis (Uitewaal) Toelken: Very variable in leaf shape: the plain, grey-green leaves vary from long-cylindrical to short-fat. Distribution: Richtersveld mountains.
Adromischus marianae cv. Little Spheroid: has superb and very peculiar round leaves. Distribution: Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Adromischus marianae var. immaculatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Adromischus marianae var. immaculatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Adromischus marianae var. immaculatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli