South African succulent with tiger-jaw-like toothed leaves that collect water vapor from the air

Faucaria tigrina, known as "tiger-jaws", gets its name from the toothed, triangular leaves that seem to drip with "saliva" and are held agape in a menacing pose.

This is a small, stemless succulent, approximately 8 centimeters in diameter. The triangular leaves emerge in pairs from the plant's center and bear long, soft, thread-like teeth along their edges. The leaves vary in color depending on sunlight, from light to dark green or rosy red to purple. Small white dots decorate the leaves, giving them a rough surface. Sometimes, the old leaves can form a kind of stem in older specimens.

A fascinating detail is that the long, white, saber-like teeth are not used for defense at all. The thread-like structures are special adaptations that help collect water vapor from the surrounding air and channel it down towards the plant's roots. Mist blowing in from the coast provides the plant with water vapor, a precious water source for survival in the hot, subtropical thickets of the Eastern Cape.

Botanical Description

Faucaria tigrina occurs only within the Albany Thicket in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This subtropical vegetation type consists of thorny, impenetrable thickets with small open areas where F. tigrina grows among rocks in the shade of surrounding vegetation. The first documented discovery was made during an expedition in 1789 by Francis Masson, sent to the Cape by the King of England to collect plants for the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens.

Care

Thrives in bright locations with good direct sun. Water sparingly and allow the soil to dry completely between waterings. Use well-draining cactus or succulent soil. In its natural environment, temperatures rarely drop below 0°C in winter, while summer temperatures range between 22 and 32°C with plenty of sunshine hours.

Water very sparingly during winter to mimic its natural dormant period. Ideal temperature 18-30 degrees Celsius. Does not tolerate wet conditions in the root zone.