Described in the Cactus and Succulent Journal in 1973 (Vol. 45: 116), this species has remained exceedingly rare in cultivation. In 1986 Lavranos returned to the remote habitat in the extreme NW of Somalia. The species is characterized by its lineate leaves with raised ridges on the undersides. This represents the coastal form which exhibits more prominently striate leaves. Rooted offsets of HBG 57874 from tissue culture of a plant collected Nov 17, 1986, by Lavranos (24728), Barad, Carter, Kimnach & Linden, 8 km W of Bargal, NW Somalia, where it grew on steep, rocky slopes overlooking the Indian Ocean in denuded, overgrazed Commiphora scrub. $17.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 83 (2), March - April, 2011