One of the most exciting species to come into cultivation in a long time from the State of Bahia, Brazil.  A beautiful compact growing Cryptanthus with broadly triangular leaves, banded lengthwise with three rows of silvery trichomes over a base color of reddish chestnut-brown, in a full, leafy rosette.  Growing 4 to 8-inches across and producing a profusion of offsets on long stolons.  This stunning decorative species was extremely rare and fairly expensive when first introduced.

A very confusing taxa which has been variously considered Cryptanthus, Orthophytum (supthutii), Lapa and currently; Lapanthus.  A small rosette of thin, semi-stiff leaves with small marginal spines and a nidular inflorescence lacking a scape. 

The bright orange-yellow flowers, borne in a cluster, are long and tubular.  By general appearances it would comfortably fit in any of several genera.  Certainly rare and unusual and a first class collector item.  Needs excellent drainage.  We recommend 'dirty Pearlite', that is Pearlite with a little peat mixed in.