Cotyledon orbiculata L.

Succulent subshrub with short, thick stem, often branched and forming clumps. Lvs opposite, sometimes subrosulate, ± vertical, sessile, to 11 × 9 cm, 5–12–(15) mm thick near middle, broadly obovate, very rarely narrow- oblong, ± concave above and convex beneath, entire, green with dense covering of white bloom; margin usually reddish purple; apex rounded and often ± mucronate. Flowering stems to c. 50 cm high, purplish and covered with white bloom. Cymes of few to many pendent fls; bracts 0.5–2 cm long. Sepals 3–5 mm long, triangular, green or ± red, covered with white bloom. Corolla 3–4–(4.7) cm long, orange or orange-red; tube c. ⅔ length of corolla, broadly cylindric and shallowly ribbed, with some bloom outside; lobes becoming reflexed, acute. Stamens 2–2.5 cm long, yellow. Styles 1.5–2 cm long, green. Scales 2–2.5 mm long, oblong, triangular-ovate to almost square. Follicles 2–3 cm long. Seeds 0.5–0.8 mm long, oblong, longitudinally ribbed.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Jun.