Cotyledon L.
Small perennial shrubs or subshrubs. Lvs opposite and decussate, rarely whorled, sometimes subrosulate, free, simple, entire. Infl. a terminal, thyrsoid or paniculate cyme, usually on a long scape, naked except near base. Fls 5-merous, pendent in bud and usually remaining so. Sepals free or connate at base, equal. Petals united to form a cylindric or urceolate tube in lower part, fleshy, greenish yellow to deep red; lobes spreading to revolute, generally < tube. Stamens 10, in 2 rather unequal whorls, ± epipetalous, usually ± exserted. Scales forming a cup with the associated carpel. Carpels 5, sometimes slightly fused at base. Seeds numerous.
9 spp., nearly all southern Africa, 1 sp. in E. Africa, Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula. Naturalised sp. 1.
Several spp. which used to be included in this genus are now referred to Echeveria.
