Trichodiadema densum

Trichodiadema densum is found in the Cape Region of South Africa, from Uniondale to Willowmore and Great Karoo.

Trichodiadema densum is a compact, mat-forming perennial short shrub, up to about 10 cm high, with woody stems and thick fleshy roots. The green succulent leaves (2 cm long) are each tipped with a crown of white hairs. The daisy-like flowers are vivid carmine pink 4–5 cm in diameter, opening in the morning and closing later in the day. The flowers appear from autumn through to spring.

Hand-coloured engraving of Trichodiadema densum (as Mesembryanthemum densum) by Sydenham Edwards (1809), taken from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (Image: RBG Kew)

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Adrian Hardy Haworth (1768-1833), who originally described the plant, was a keen amateur entomologist and botanist who was particularly interested in succulents and wrote Observations on the Genus Mesembryanthemum: In Two Parts, published in London, 1794.

Until 1926 Trichodiadema densum was known as Mesembryanthemum densum. The name Trichodiadema was applied by the German botanist Schwantes and describes the plant well, referring to the circlet of bristly hairs at the tip of each leaf (tricho meaning hair, and diadema, crown).

Trichodiadema densum is cultivated as an ornamental. In South Africa, the roots of Trichodiadema species are used for making a fermented honey beverage called iQhilika.

Propagation of Trichodiadema densum is by seeds or cuttings.

Trichodiadema densum is growing in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, in the ’Living Stones’ collection in the dry climate section.

Alcohol-preserved specimens of Trichodiadema densum are held in Kew’s Herbarium, where they are available to researchers from around the world, by appointment. The details of one of these specimens can be seen on-line in the Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

JSTOR Plant Science (includes an image of Trichodiadema densum)

Science in Africa

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (Wiley-Blackwell)