Conophytum ratum TS/PD928 (top of Gamsberg)

C. ratum can form very large bodies up to about 50mm across in the various populations that grow in quartz flats at the base of the Gamsberg, Achab se berg and Namiesberg. However on top of the Gamsberg the small form shown above occurs, which has bodies only around 10mm across. It really deserves it's own subspecies name. All forms are slow to reach maturity from seed and very slow to clump up, although clumps of up to about 6 bodies can be grown in captivity. The populations around and on top of the Gamsberg are endangered by the likely destruction of the hill in the course of zinc mining.