Source:
SSA
Synonym(s):
Pleiospilos N.E.Br. in part.
Description:
Dwarf, compact, tufted to densely shortly branched perennials, rarely sunken, slightly anisophyllous. Leaves opposite, connate at base, thick and firmly fleshy, triangular-boat-shaped, flat to concave above, rounded below; surface bright green to purple, smooth; outer epidermal walls without crystals. Flowers solitary, shortly pedicellate, bracteate; opening in afternoon, closing by evening, highly scented. Sepals 4 or 5. Petals free, slender, yellow. Stamens papillate at base. Nectary a dark green to yellow, regularly crenate ring. Ovary with parietal placentas; stigmas 9 or 10, thread-like. Fruit a 9- or 10-locular capsule, of Titanopsis type; convex on top; expanding keels parallel, diverging at tips, ending in aristate valve wings; covering membranes present; closing bodies tiny, endocarpal. F lowering in autumn. D istinguishing characters: compact perennials with smooth, unkeeled leaves; fruit 10-locular with tiny closing bodies.
Distribution:
Species 3, occurs in the central part of the Western Cape, it grows in the arid Tanqua Karoo and southwestern Great Karoo, just entering the Little Karoo south of Laingsburg.
Classification:
Add new comment