Stapeliopsis

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Stapeliopsis
Stapeliopsis saxatilis stems - Die Hel Gamkaskloof.jpg
Stems of , the most widespread species of the genus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Genus: Stapeliopsis

Stapeliopsis is a genus of succulent plants in the family Apocynaceae, native to southern Africa.[1][2]

Description[]

Stapeliopsis was described as a genus in 1928. The name refers to its superficial resemblance to some species of the genus Stapelia (Greek "-opsis" = "look-alike"). The genus is extremely variable.[3]

The stems are four-angled in cross-section, often with lines of teeth along the angles. In some species, the stems are prostrate or even push underground as rhizomes; in others the stems are more erect.

The flowers are highly tubular, with hairs inside the tube of the flower. They appear from the base of the stems and often are born underground (especially in the case of . The tips of many species' flower lobes curve inwards and touch at the tip, forming closed structures. Several species even use their flowers as cages to trap their insect pollinators - only releasing them when the flower wilts.

Distribution[]

The genus occurs across southern Africa, but is absent from most of the interior, occurring mainly around the western and southern verges of the subcontinent. The species are mostly very rare and restricted in their range. Only is relatively widespread in rocky areas of the Cape.

Species
  1. (R.A. Dyer) Bruyns - Breede River Valley, Western Cape Province, South Africa
  2. (Bruyns) Bruyns - Western Cape Province
  3. Pillans - Namaqualand in Namibia + Cape Province
  4. (N.E. Br.) Bruyns - Cape Province
  5. (N.E. Br.) Bruyns - Widespread in Cape Province
  6. Lavranos - Namibia
formerly included
  1. S. ballyi, syn of
  2. S. cooperi, syn of
  3. S. madagascariensis, syn of

References[]

  1. ^ Bruyns, P. V. & P. I. Forster. 1991. Recircumscription of the Stapelieae (Asclepiadaceae). Taxon 40(3): 381–391.
  2. ^ Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
  3. ^ Pillans, Neville Stuart. 1928. South African Gardening 18: 32.
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