Giant Jewel Plant

Description

Aloinopsis malherbei is a species of succulent plant, also known as the "giant jewel plant". It is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, especially the area around Calvinia and Loeriesfontein. The plant produces a thick tuber and produces yellow flowers. Unlike other Aloinopsis, it only has tubercles (bumps) at the leaf tips. It was named in honor of Marthinus Lourens Malherbe or Soekershof. Aloinopsis is a genus of ice plants from South Africa. This genus is closely related to the similar Titanopsis, Deilanthe and Nananthus genera. Aloinopsis species have a rather large tuberous root system, and are occasionally cultivated for their looks. They also tend to grow more "heads" when they are raised. Most Aloinopsis are winter growers and can react badly to too much water at the wrong time. Aloinopsis malherbei reportedly have "blunt tips to their leaves, which are densely covered with prominent white tubercles." The species of Aloinopsis are indigenous to an arid area stretching across the border between the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Most species occur in an arid winter-rainfall area. An outlying species occurs in the far north eastern corner of the Northern Cape.