Malephora

N. E. Brown

Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 81: 12. 1927.

Etymology: Greek malle, arm-hole, and pherein, to bear, in reference to the seed pockets of the fruits
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 89. Mentioned on page 77.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA4 P17 Malephora crocea.jpegMalephora crocea
Delosperma litorale
Drosanthemum floribundum
Barbara Alongi
Barbara Alongi
Barbara Alongi

Shrubs or subshrubs, perennial, succulent. Roots fibrous. Stems erect to prostrate, rooting at older nodes. Leaves cauline, opposite, sessile; stipules absent; blade slightly connate basally, triangular to cylindric, smooth, usually glaucous. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, flowers solitary or in cymes, pedicellate; bracts absent. Flowers showy, tubular, to 5 cm diam.; calyx lobes 4–6, tapered, unequal; petals (including petaloid staminodia) 40–65, distinct, yellow, pink, orange, or reddish to purple; stamens 150, erect, bases often hairy; nectary often present; pistil 8–12-carpellate; ovary mostly inferior, flat apically, 8–12-loculed, each locule with basal pocket containing 1–2 or no seeds; placentation parietal; style absent; stigmas 8–12, plumose. Fruits capsules, persistent, dehiscence loculicidal, not separating into segments; locule lids present, winged. Seeds 75, lenticular, rough; tubercles in rows.

Distribution

Introduced; Africa

Discussion

Species 13 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Malephora"
John E. Bleck +
N. E. Brown +
triangular +  and cylindric +
appendaged +, hooded +  and petaloid +
Greek malle, arm-hole, and pherein, to bear, in reference to the seed pockets of the fruits +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
indehiscent +, circumscissile +, dehiscence +, septicidal +  and loculicidal +
terminal +  and axillary +
8-12-loculed +
reddish;purple +
distinct +
8-12-carpellate +
Gard. Chron., ser. +
75;no;1;2 +
papillose +
lenticular +
connate +  and distinct +
mat-forming +
underground +
erect +  and prostrate +
adnate +  and free +
connate +  and distinct +
Malephora +
Aizoaceae +
subshrub +  and shrub +
scaly +, hairy +  and glabrous +