Description

Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’ is a cultivar of Cotyledon orbiculata, a popular South African succulent plant.

This particular cultivar, Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’, has attractive and vibrant green coloured leaves with a wavy red leaf margin which give these plants a very animated yet poised character.

Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’is also known to produce slightly redder flowers which highlight and compliment the elongated leaves with elegant red leaf margins.

The general species, Cotyledon orbiculata, is commonly known as pig’s ear or round-leafed navel-wort.

Height of Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’

These plants usually exhibit the structure of a low growing shrub but some sources claim they can reach heights of up to 1 meter tall.^[1]

They cab also be kept compact and small if their root space is restricted. This can also accentuate the waviness of the leaves. This means these succulent plants are a good compliment to a bonsai tree.

Leaves of Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’

The pig’s ear plant has gray-green leaves that can be up to 13 by 7 cm (5.1 by 2.8 in) with a white powdery substance on them that helps reflect sunlight and conserve water.^[2]

The shape of the leaves was thought to have a resemblance to a pig’s ear, thus the common name.^[3]

Flowers of Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’

The bell-shaped flowers are small, usually less than 3 cm (1.2 in) in length, and droop from the top of a 60 cm (24 in) tall stalk.[1]

The flowers are usually orange-red, and as previously mentioned, tend to be slightly redder than some of the other Cotyledon orbiculata varieties. The tubular flower crown has no bulges and is 20 millimeters long and up to 9 millimeters in diameter.

The bent back crown tips are orange, red or yellow and are 12 millimeters long. The stamens protrude 2 to 3 millimeters.

The yellow anthers are elongated and 1.75 millimeters in diameter.

The slightly transversely elongated nectar scales are dull and yellowish green and are 1.5 × 2 millimeters in size. The 10 stamens are attached to the base of the corolla (2 per petal), and the 5 carpels each have a style longer than the ovary.

Varieties and Cultivars of Cotyledon orbiculata

This diverse species includes a large number of varieties and cultivated forms (which some may have a resemblance to Kalanchoe thyrsiflora).^[4][5]

Recognised varieties include:

• Cotyledon orbiculata var. flanaganii (Schönl. & Baker f.) Toelken, with elongated leaves in whorls
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga (Haw.) DC., defined by its red leaf-margins and 20–50 cm inflorescence
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. spuria (L.) Toelken, defined by having (2–)3–5 bract pairs on the stem of its inflorescence.
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. “Dactylopsis”, a small and proliferous plant with elongated, terete leaves.
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. “Engleri” (= cultivar: “Viridis”), with leaves of a deep and slightly glaucous green
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. “Mucronata”, defined by its mucronate leaves.
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. “Oophylla” Dinter (= cultivars: “Boegoeberg” and “Lizard Eggs”), defined by its round, white, pruinose leaves.
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. “Undulata” Haw. (= cultivar: “Silver Crown”), defined by its wide, flat, round leaves with bent margin.
• Cotyledon orbiculata var. “Takbok”, with leaves that often have multiple lobes, becoming antler-like.

Distribution of Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’

This particular cultivar, ‘Macrantha‘, is popular in gardens throughout the world.

Native to South Africa, the parent species, Cotyledon orbiculata, is found growing in the wild of the Eastern Cape and other parts of South Africa. ^[1]

It grows naturally in rocky outcrops in grassy shrubland and the Karoo region.

Uses of Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’

Cotyledon orbiculata has a number of medicinal uses. In South Africa, the fleshy part of the leaf is applied to warts and corns. Heated leaves are used as poultices for boils and other inflammations. Single leaves may be eaten as a vermifuge and the juice has been used to treat epilepsy.^[2]

However, the leaves contain a bufanolide called cotyledontoxin, which is toxic to humans, sheep, goats, horses, cattle, poultry, and dogs, causing a condition known as cotyledonosis.^[7]

Plants Shop Africa can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Companion plants for that grow well with Cotyledon orbiculata var oblonga ‘Macrantha’

► Browse: Crassula ovata (the “jade plant”)

► Browse: Bulbine frutescens (the “snake flower”)

► Browse: Mesembryanthemum cordifolium (“heart-leaf”, “baby sun rose”, “brakvygie”)

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References

1.  “Cotyledon orbiculata”. University of Oklahoma Department of Botany & Microbiology. June 13, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
2. Harris, Shireen. “Cotyledon orbiculata”. South Africa National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
3. Vandecasteele, Petra; Godard, Paul (2008). In Celebration of Fynbos. Struik. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-1-77007-490-3.
4. Cotyledon orbiculata PlantZAfrica.com
5. HR. Tölken (1985). Crassulaceae. In O.A. Leistner, Flora of southern Africa 14. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.
6. “National Pest Plant Accord” (PDF). Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
7. Wickens, G. E. (1998). Ecophysiology of economic plants in arid and semi-arid lands. Springer. p. 204. ISBN 3-540-52171-2.

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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Cotyledon orbiculata”, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.