Glottiphyllum linguiforme leaves

Glottiphyllum linguiforme grows opposite leaf pairs. These leaves are unusual, tongue-like structures rich in succulence. Leaf colour is green or blue-green, variable with the seasons. The leaf arrangement is distichous, meaning that the two vertical stacks of leaves adhere to their ranks opposite each other, all in the same plane.

The thick, flat leaves are angled, their margins rounded or pointed at the tips. The inside surfaces of the leaves are mostly flat, the outside convex, although there isn’t great consistency in this. Some leaf surfaces undulate.

The leaves are soft, smooth and hairless. Softness in leaves as in personalities may bring about damage, as has happened to the leaves of this plant. Many things happen over a lifetime, also to a plant.

Protected container growth brings about a neater appearance, but in the veld the achievement of large yellow flowers makes up for leaf scars (Smith, et al, 1998; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).