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Cact. Journ. Brit. 44(4): 86 (1982)
Family: ASCLEPIADACEAE
Accepted Scientific Name: Huernia hallii E.Lamb & B.M.Lamb
Natl. Cact. Succ. J. xiii. 57 (1958)
Origin and Habitat: Huernia halliiSN|19537]]SN|19537]] is endemic to the Great Karas Mountains (South of Aus and near Griinau) in southern Namibia and the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. This species is known from 4–8 subpopulations with extent of occurrence estimated at less than 10,000 km².
Altitude range: 1300 - 1700 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: It grows inside Pentzia bushes on flat-topped mountains in rocky areas. The population is assumed to be stable at present, however, collecting is a potential threat.
Synonyms:
- Huernia hallii E.Lamb & B.M.Lamb
- Huernia namaquensis subs. hallii (E.Lamb & B.M.Lamb) Bruyns
JAPANESE (日本語): フェルニア・ハリー
Description: Huernia halliiSN|19537]]SN|19537]] is an interesting very dwarf perennial-succulents with light green stems rooting where they touch the ground. Readily offsets to form a densely packaged tuft. Flowers are pallid, milky white or light yellowish with many fine rusty dots. It is freely flowering over a long period.
Stems: 4-angled, pale, fresh green, toothed 15-25 mm long (more in cultivation).
Inflorescence: Placed near the base or on the side of the stem, the pedicels up to 30 mm long.
Flowers: Campanulate, nodding or supported by the clustered stems, unscented, milky white or light yellowish with many fine rusty dots or broken strips. Corolla 25-30 mm across, lobes erect to wide-spread, cream-coloured and finely maroon spotted throughout, the lobes having a fine maroon margin. the tube is smooth inside but papillate at the throat, the papillae conical and minute.
Bibliography: Major refrerences and further lectures
1) Craven, P. 2004. Huernia hallii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 August 2014.
2) Doreen Court “Succulent Flora of Southern Africa” CRC Press, 01/Jun/2000
Cultivation and Propagation: Huernia halliiSN|19537]]SN|19537]] isn't difficult to grow and flower.
Spring: When winter ends and they begin to grow again, they will require much water and soaking the pots will no longer put the plants at risk for rot. In the spring they will grow well in partial shade and leaving them out in the rain may provide them with the water they need.
Summer: In the summer months they will tolerate heavy rain, but will be just as happy if the season is dry. It's best to sort out the stems while the plants are resting in the summer before they begin their autumnal growth cycle. They will tolerate very hot weather outdoors as long as they are kept in filtered light and this will encourage them to flower in the Autumn. They also enjoy some fertiliser. Moving the plants as they are developing buds may cause them to spontaneously abort the flowers all together.
Autumn: In the fall keep them outdoors until the night time temperatures drop below the 10°C.
Winter: Winter care presents no problems at 10° C with plenty of light. As soon as they are flowered be sure to take extra precautions to keep them dry, because damp cool conditions when the plants are resting is an invitation to fungal infections, but - according to temperatures –some occasional lit watering may be useful.
Potting medium: Since roots are quite shallow, use a cactus mix or add extra perlite or pumice to regular soil potting soil. A gritty, very free-draining compost is suitable, and clay pots help the plants to dry out between watering. Re-pot every 2 years.
Pest and diseases: Huernia are generally fairly easy to grow, especially if kept pest-free. They are very susceptible to stem and root mealy bugs, and damage from these may well initiate fungal attack. Any time when there is a dead or dying stem in the pot it is important to remove it immediately and completely before other healthy stems can become ill too, isolate the healthy parts, dry them off, and re-root them in new compost.
Propagation: Easiest with stem cuttings. Allow cuttings to dry a day before planting. Stems must be laid (Not buried) on gritty compost and will then root from the underside of the stems. It can also be increased from seeds sowing in spring in moist, sandy peat moss. Barely cover seeds. Seeds germinate quickly.
In any season it's best to lay the stems out for several days before replanting them and then pot them only in dry soil and withhold any water until they begin to shrivel or start growing again.
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