Monilaria are winter-growing succulent mesembs from the from the Western Cape of South Africa.
In Monilaria moniliformis the internodes are often larger than long, 1-2 cm thick. It is recognizeable from the other species by the round, soft, short-collared sheaths which completely cover the leaves for the next growth period.
Monilaria in lating means string of pearls or simply jewel. A modern common name is Bunny ears. What is the link between rabbits and pearls?
Monilarias are shrublets with thick stems with swollen nodes and they produce two different types of leaves: One pair of short leaves, fused in a rounded stucture and one pair of long, cylindrical leaves, resembling bunny ears when they are not too long. Both are coated with the ice-plant cells so typical of some mesembs. Both type of leaves are present only for some time in winter. In summer all green parts dry out and the plant rests for some months. The resting trunks are thick and jointed, resembling strings of pearls.
Picture from wikimedia commons:
By Dwergenpaartje - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65204086
Cultivada |
Protegido |
Origen de la especie |
África |
Forma presentación |
A raíz desnuda |
Tamaño Máx. |
0-10cm |
Familia Botánica |
Aizoaceae |
Luz |
Sol |
Temperatura mínima invierno |
-5 ºC a 5 ºC |
Tipo de planta |
Herbácea |
Cuidados |
Maceta |
Forma |
Crasas o suculentas |