Adromischus cristatus var. zeyheri

Adromischus cristatus var. zeyheri is a small leaf succulent branching at the base. It lacks the reddish aerial roots found on var. cristatus.

The pale to bright green, unspotted and hairless leaves are spoon-shaped. The rounded upper part of the leaf blade tapers in thick succulence to the narrow base, possible to be regarded as a petiole. The rounded leaf tip is wavy, the leaf surface only sometimes shiny and smooth.

The flower spike is lax, comprising tiny flowers with cylindrical green tubes above a small calyx. The five whitish cream, pointed corolla lobes are tinged pink on their outside, keeled surfaces. A small, pointed bract is present at the stubby petiole base. Brown blotches may be seen on the petals inside the corolla mouth. The ten stamens are included in the tube. The inflorescence becomes from 25 cm to 60 cm tall. Flowering happens in midsummer. The fruit is a dry, many-seeded follicle.

The subspecies is endemic to the Western Cape, found only in Riversdale fynbos on some shady cliffs. Little is known about its survival probability early in the twenty first century.

A. cristatus has five recognised varieties including var. schonlandii, var. mzimvubuensis and var. clavifolius, some of them rare (Smith, et al, 1997; www.cactus-art.biz; www.redlist.sanbi.org).