Drosanthemum

Schwantes

Z. Sukkulentenk. 3: 29. 1927.

Etymology: Greek drosos, dew, and anthos, flower, in reference to the glistening papillae
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 91. Mentioned on page 77.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA4 P17 Malephora crocea.jpegMalephora crocea
Delosperma litorale
Drosanthemum floribundum
Barbara Alongi
Barbara Alongi
Barbara Alongi

Shrubs, succulent, usually rough with hairlike papillae. Roots fibrous. Stems erect to prostrate. Leaves cauline, opposite, decussate, sessile, rarely connate basally; stipules absent; blade linear, trigonous to cylindric, equal, margins entire, papillate, glistening. Inflorescences terminal on lateral shoots, pedicellate [sessile]; flowers solitary or in cymes; bracts absent. Flowers showy, tubular, 0.8–6 cm diam.; calyx lobes 5 (–6), green, tapered, equal, papillate; petals distinct, white, yellow, orange, scarlet, pink, or purple, 1–2-seriate; nectary glands 5, distinct; stamens ca. 75, erect or spreading; pistil (4–) 5 (–6) -carpellate; ovary inferior, (4–) 5 (–6) -loculed, flat or convex; placentation parietal; style absent; stigmas (4–) 5 (–6), threadlike. Fruits capsules, persistent, membrane covering seeds present, dehiscence loculicidal; apical lids reclosing. Seeds many, light-brown, ribbed, tuberculate.

Distribution

Introduced; Africa

Discussion

Species 120 (1 in the flora).

Drosanthemum speciosum (Haworth) Schwantes was misapplied by P. A. Munz (1974). The taxon in question is Malephora crocea (Jacquin) Schwantes (W. R. Ferren Jr. et al. 1981). Drosanthemum speciosum is cultivated as an ornamental in California; it is not known to naturalize. For an illustration of Drosanthemum speciosum see H. Herre (1971). Drosanthemum is closely related to Delosperma though the latter genus lacks membranes covering the seeds.

Selected References

None.

... more about "Drosanthemum"
John E. Bleck +
Schwantes +
trigonous +  and cylindric +
appendaged +, hooded +  and petaloid +
Greek drosos, dew, and anthos, flower, in reference to the glistening papillae +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
indehiscent +, circumscissile +, dehiscence +, septicidal +  and loculicidal +
terminal +  and axillary +
decussate +  and opposite +
connate +
papillate +
(4-)5(-6)-loculed +
convex +  and flat +
purple;pink;purple;pink;scarlet;orange;yellow;white +
distinct +
(4-)5(-6)-carpellate +
Z. Sukkulentenk. +
light-brown +
tuberculate +
connate +  and distinct +
spreading +  and erect +
mat-forming +
underground +
erect +  and prostrate +
thread-like +
adnate +  and free +
connate +  and distinct +
Drosanthemum +
Aizoaceae +
perennial +  and annual +
scaly +, hairy +  and glabrous +