Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Cypselea humifusa Trianthema portulacastrum Aptenia cordifolia	Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi

Subshrubs, succulent, minutely papillate to smooth, glabrous. Roots fibrous, sometimes thick and fleshy. Stems prostrate or climbing, green. Leaves cauline, opposite [alternate], petiolate, those of each pair equal; stipules absent; blade cordate [lanceolate], flat, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary [terminal], flowers solitary or in few-flowered clusters, sessile or peduncled; bracts absent. Flowers showy, campanulate, 1 cm diam.; hypanthium conic; calyx lobes 4, unequal, 2 larger and leaflike, 2 green, tapered; petals (including petaloid staminodia) 140, connate proximally, white, cream, yellow, or pink to purple; nectary absent; stamens 80, arising from hypanthium; pistil 4-carpellate; ovary inferior, 4-loculed; placentation axile; styles absent; stigmas 4, linear. Fruits capsules, hygroscopic, obconic; valves 4; valve lids and wings absent. Seeds 800, brownish black, flat, tuberculate; arils absent.

Distribution

Introduced; Europe, Africa, Australia

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Aptenia cordifolia