Pleiospilos compactus subsp. canus leaves

The lumpy leaves of Pleiospilos compactus subsp. canus grow in pairs fused at the base, becoming about 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. The leaves widen from base to tip. They have a triangular form from a conspicuous keel, but are somewhat rounded, the margins and keel not precisely defined. The triangular leaf shape (in cross-section) becomes more pronounced higher up, to be replaced by a wedge-shape at the leaf tip. The leaf pairs don’t grow symmetrically, either curving or angling in the direction of one of the leaves.

Apart from all of this it remains to be said that the leaves are variable in shape and the fairly precise description given above may have to be adapted for the next population. Generic to all Pleiospilos leaves is the speckling of scattered dark dots along the leaf surfaces, barely visible in this photo.

In Greek pleios means full, spilos means dots, forming the name of this small genus comprising four species (with some subspecies). Canus means old age or grey hairs in Latin, maybe referring to the pale leaves, more creamy grey than green. The leaves are covered by a waxy layer that may tend to flake (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Smith, et al, 1988; www.llifle.com).