Cheiridopsis

Compact, tufted, dwarf to somewhat shrubby perennials; isophyllous or heterophyllous, rarely with a compact storage root. Leaves opposite, 1 or 2 pairs to a branch, up to 3 pairs in cultivation variably united, withering, leaf sheath of one pair developing into a prominent, papery, dry sleeve, short or long, triangular, rarely flattened or hood-shaped, green to glaucous-green, often with 1 or 2 small teeth along keel or near apex; epidermis papillate, covered with waxy compound, surface +/- velvety, sometimes with prominent elevations above subhypodermal tannin idioblast layer. Flowers solitary, terminal, mostly pedicellate, with bracts, 10-100 mm in diameter; opening around midday and closing by sunset; scented. Sepals 4 or 5. Petals in several series, free, various shades of yellow, rarely purple or red. Stamens many; staminodes 0. Nectary a crenulate ring. Ovary: top raised at first, becoming depressed in fruit; placentas parietal to basal; stigmas 10-20, +/- plumose. Fruit a 10-20-locular capsule, of Leipoldtia type with rather straight covering membranes and reduced additional closing devices; often with dorsal appendages (wings, tubes, flanges) on the covering membranes; with narrow, widely spreading or reflexed valves; diverging expanding keels with membranous, awn-like points; valve wings usually 0; closing bodies large. Seeds pear-shaped, obtusely 3-angled, smooth or rough, whitish to brownish. x = 9 ( polyploidy). F lowering from autumn to early spring. D istinguishing characters: mostly tufted, variable perennials; leaf pairs closely pressed together, old leaves sometimes forming papery sheaths; flower stalk may be curved; fruit 10-20-locular, with awn-like points at ends of valves.