Soapstone Fingers: The Ruschia Group, The Bergeranthus Group & Mesembryanthemoideae
Proposed volume
In this volume
Ruschia Group
Acrodon
Astridia
Marlothistella
Ebracteola
Khadia
Ruschia
Bergeranthus Group
Machairophyllum
Hereroa
Rhombophyllum
Bijlia
Mesembryanthemoideae
Phyllobolus
Sceletium
Dactylopsis
For future volumes
Ruschia Group
Arenifera
Polymita
Stayneria
most of Ruschia
Bergeranthus Group
Bergeranthus
Carruanthus
Cerochlamys
Mesembryanthemoideae
Aptenia
Aridaria
Mesembryanthemum
Platythyra
Prenia
Synaptophyllum
Brownanthus
Pseudobrownanthus
Psilocaulon
Aspazoma
These three natural (but wholly independent) groupings are combined here to fill out a list of some 65 taxa worthy of cultivation. The genus Ruschia proper should be separately treated, once it is sorted out. Of the 250 species in the genus, about 40 are horticulturally important. Sceletium attracts wide attention for its narcotic properties, the stunning Dactylopsis for its fleeting presence in collections (its one of the trickiest to cultivate). Bijlia sits perched like carved soapstone, and the fat fingers of Phyllobolus sprout from caudices.