Plants in the Ruschia genus are among the most striking, versatile and diverse of all succulents in the Mesembryanthemaceae family. The genus name Ruschia, was named in honour of a Namibian farmer by the name of Ernst Julius Rusch (1867-1957). The monotypic genus Ruschianthus was named to commemorate his son Ernst Franz Theodor Rusch (1897-1964). Ruschia is the largest genus in the mesemb family with about 216 species.

Ruschia dichroa, synonymously known as Cylindrophyllum dichroum, Mesembryanthemum dichroum and Ruschia dichroa var. alba, is a South African endemic species found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. It grows into a 20cm creeping Mesembryanthemaceae amongst rocks with heads of bright variable pink flowers during spring.