Tylecodon dinteri hort. is well known in cultivation in Southern California, and apparently has made its way both to Europe and Australia as well. Out of flower, it looks much like a narrow leaved form of T. paniculatus (L.f.) Tölken. What few may realize is that its background is shrouded in mystery and it is incorrectly named. This article speculates on the background of T. dinteri hort. after briefly discussing Tylecodon Tölken and similar species such as T. paniculatus, T. cacalioides (L.f.) Tölken, and T. wallichii (Harv.) Tölken.