Origin and Habitat: Namibia, South Africa (Great Namaqualand)
Habitat: Granite and quartz outcrops.

• Cheiridopsis caroli-schmidtii (Dinter & A.Berger) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum caroli-schmidtii Dinter & A.Berger

• Cheiridopsis caroli-schmidtii (Dinter & A.Berger) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum caroli-schmidtii Dinter & A.Berger
• Cheiridopsis ausensis L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis borealis L. Bolus
• Cheiridopsis puberula Dinter
• Mesembryanthemum puberulum Dinter ex Range

Description: Cheiridopsis caroli-schmidtii is a small leaf succulent, 5(-10) cm tall and 15-20 cm in diameter, it clumps easily and forms a mound of withered leaves. Cheiridopsis are dormant in summer. During that time they look kind of dry, or dying.
Stems: Stemless or with a very short stem.
Leaves: Up to 4 cm long, thick, opposite, joined at the base, fleshy, three-angled and keeled, silvery green with conspicuous transparent dots (translucent in backlight) in group of two or three pairs, with the shorter drier outside pair framing the larger younger inner pair.
Flowers: Chrome yellow, daisy-like, solitary and pedicellate about 3.5 cm in diameter and their size gradually increases in the course of several days after blooming.
Blooming season: Flowers from early winter to spring.
Fruit: The fruit is a multilocular capsule with awned wings, membranes and large closing bodies.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann “Aizoaceae A – E” Springer, 2002
2) Debra Brown Folsom, Huntington Botanical Gardens “Dry climate gardening with succulents” Pantheon Books, 14/mar/1995
3) John Manning “Field guide to wild flowers of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland” Struik, 15/apr/2010
4) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
5) Hermann Jacobsen, Vera Higgins “Succulent Plants: Description, Cultivation and Uses of Succulent Plants, Other Than Cacti” Williams and Norgate, Limited, 1935
6) Jacobsen. “Handbook of succulent plants” 1328 (1960)
7) Barkhuizen, B.P. “Succulents of Southern Africa.” Purnell, Cape Town 1978.
8) Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. 2009. “Red List of South African Plants” 2009. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
9) Hartmann, H.E.K. “Growth forms and leaves in the genus Cheiridopsis” N. E. Br. Cactus & Succulent Journal (U.S.) 60: 168–173. 1998

Cultivation and Propagation: The Cheiridopsis caroli-schmidtiiSN|22105]]SN|22105]] is a "winter" grower which is most active from late winter until later spring and heading for summer dormancy, but in favourable growing conditions it keeps going over the summer too and doesn't need particular care. It is relatively easy to grow.
Soil: Requires good drainage as it it is prone to root rot. It can grows outdoor in sunny, dry, rock crevices (protection against winter wet is required) It can also be cultivated in alpine house, in poor, drained soil.
Fertilization: It thrives in poor soils and seems sensitive to an excess of potassium.
Watering: Water minimally in summer, only when the plant starts shrivelling, water more abundantly when they are growing in the autumn and spring. Requires little water otherwise its epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars).
Light: It needs a bright sunny or light shade exposure in winter, but keep cool and shaded in summer.
Hardiness: It prefer a very bright situation and will take a light frost (Hardy to -5°C) if it is in dry soil. USDA zones 9A – 11.
Uses: Container, rock garden.
Propagation: Seed in spring or (or rarely) cuttings. It is easily propagated by seed.