Cephalophyllum is a captivating genus of low-growing, mat-forming to trailing succulent plants in the Aizoaceae, the ice plant or vygie family. These hardy little jewels are strongly associated with the winter-rainfall regions of western South Africa and extend northwards into south-western Namibia, with many species adapted to open, stony, sandy, or renosterveld and fynbos habitats where rainfall is seasonal and drainage is sharp. The name Cephalophyllum comes from Greek words meaning “head” and “leaf”, referring to the compact, head-like clusters of succulent leaves produced by many species. In cultivation, the genus is loved for its neat creeping habit, drought tolerance, and brilliant daisy-like flowers, which may be yellow, red, orange, pink, purple or bicoloured depending on the species, often opening in the brighter part of the day to attract pollinators.

Cephalophyllum caespitosum, previously known as Cheiridopsis cuprea, grows in open Succulent Karroo on quartz flats or in sandy loamy depressions together with species of the genera Argyroderma, Monilaria, Oophytum and Dactylopsis. Precipitation ranges from 100 to 200 mm per annum; mainly in winter (August). It is a somewhat limp-leaved species with large flowers with many thin petals ranging in colour from salmon to coppery or magenta with paler centre.