Trichodiadema rogersiae

Trichodiadema rogersiae, also known as Rogers Crownfig, is a fascinating succulent plant native to a small locality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It grows in the Karoo region here at altitudes between 900 - 1 650 m above sea level. The epithet 'rogersiae' pays tribute to Bertha Rogers, who collected the type specimen in 1928, from which the species was defined. Trichodiadema rogersiae closely resembles Trichodiadema setuliferum, but differs in having smooth cells on the leaves without papillae.

The leaves are green, greenish-yellow to light brown in colour. The line-shaped to lance-shaped leaves are fleshy, connate at the base and glossy. The surface is densely covered with protruding, water-retaining cells. At the apex of the leaf is a conspicuous diadem of protruding bristles, which is characteristic of the whole genus. The plant grows up to 30 cm tall and has straight stems.

Individual pink to purple flowers grow at the end of the branches. If they are allowed to bloom, the fruit is a capsule.

This plant can be shaped into the desired forms of its grower. Because of its unpretentiousness, it is also suitable for beginners who can try shaping it without having to worry about every cut. The succulent delights with its purple flowers and introduces us to a typical representative of the Trichodiadema genus.