Monilaria MONILIFORMIS

Monilaria MONILIFORMIS - Bunny Succulent, Bunny Ears, Monilaria moniliformis.

Monilarias of the ice plant family (Aizoaceae) received their name for the resemblance of their stems to strings of beads, from the Latin "monile". The local name translates as pea mesemb (ertjievygie in the Afrikaans language). The homeland of monilarias is Namaqualand, the west and north of the Cape Province of South Africa. In nature, they grow on clay and sandy soils.

These are usually small shrubs (nevertheless reaching a very respectable age, perhaps up to a hundred years) with constrictions at stem nodes that divide it into short, rounded, or slightly elongated bead-like segments. The stems are quite succulent, similar, in our view, to the stems of Psilocaulon, considered the only example of stem succulence among mesembs.

As in Mitrophyllum, monilaria leaves are of two types: short and long. Small, fused almost entirely, very succulent leaves of the first type represent almost a single rounded body, much like a Conophytum. The second pair of leaves develops by the beginning of the wet season, breaking through the apex of the primary body. They are elongated-cylindrical in shape, fused only at the very base, somewhat resembling the leaves of Ebracteola. The epidermis is covered with special outgrowth structures consisting of water-storing cells. Drying out, leaves of the second type leave behind a parchment-like covering sheath that provides protection from sunlight for newly forming leaves. During the dormant period, the plants give the impression of being withered.

Fragrant daytime flowers are white, pink, or yellow, crowning long solitary peduncles. Monilarias bloom from May to August, that is, autumn to winter in their homeland. Moreover, for an individual specimen, flowering lasts about three weeks.

Monilaria moniliformis has its own peculiarity: each season it forms only two pairs of leaves. The leaves of the lower pair are small, rounded (they form a rounded "body"), up to 1 cm (0.4 in) in size. From them emerge the leaves of the second pair. These leaves are large, reaching a length of 10 cm (3.9 in). The leaves have a very interesting coloration; they are covered with a thin skin and have a pearly sheen. In spring, only dry skin remains from these leaves, from beneath which a new pair of leaves appears. Monilaria blooms with pink, yellow, and white flowers.

From seeds, monilarias grow easily and rapidly, frequently demonstrating one-hundred-percent germination. As a substrate for sowing, commercial cactus soil can be used, to which about one-third washed river sand is added. One can also use a mixture of 1 part sod soil and 2 parts sand. The soil mixture must be sterilized before sowing.

Seeds are spread over the surface of moistened soil without covering them with anything from above - in the dark, Aizoaceae seeds germinate poorly. The seed tray is covered with glass or film and kept in a bright spot (without direct sun) at a temperature no higher than 20-22 °C (68-72 °F). It is beneficial if night temperatures are somewhat lower.

Monilarias germinate very quickly, with the first seedlings often appearing within a week after sowing. Sowing trays must be aired frequently without allowing them to dry out completely, and bright indirect light must be provided. After 2-3 weeks, the cover glass can be removed completely, and the seedlings moistened as needed. After about six months, young monilarias can be transplanted into individual small pots.

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In cultivation, monilarias are undemanding. Soils should be sandy, free of organic matter, and well-drained. They propagate by seeds, while vegetative propagation possibilities are limited. During the dormant period, plants should be kept completely dry.

Like Mitrophyllum, monilarias are not numerous, numbering around 5-6 species. The most interesting of them is Monilaria MONILIFORMIS, featuring a succulent moniliform stem and delicate long leaves resembling bunny ears.