Ebracteola is a genus of only four species of mat-forming or clumping cushions composed of tightly packed rosettes of a few pairs of keeled, decussate leaves (arranged in right-angled pairs). The genus has a wide range across a band of southern Africa from Windhoek, Namibia to the northern N. Cape and southern NW. Provinces of S. Africa. This is arid country but experiences most of its precipitation in summer. It also receives some in winter with inland cold, so our plants have fared well in a shade house despite the unusual cold and wet experienced this last winter. E. wilmaniae is named for Maria Wilman (1867-1957) of Beaufort West, S. Africa. She studied botany at Cambridge University, England where she was awarded a certificate, the only degree available to women at the time. In 1908 she became the first director of the McGregor Memorial Museum in Kimberley which she built up to become one of the leading museums in the country. It was not until 1931 that she was awarded an M. A. degree. Our plants are second generation seedlings from material originating from Danielskuil, N. Cape, a population that was said to have predominantly “purple” flowers. As our plants have matured we have seen about 25% white flowers while the rest display varying shades of pink consistent with the description of white to dark pink flowers for this species. HBG 134695, ex Karoo BG 72/86. $7.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 91 (2), Summer 2019