Acrodon deminutus

Last updated

Acrodon deminutus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Acrodon
Species:
A. deminutus
Binomial name
Acrodon deminutus
Klak

Acrodon deminutus, also known as the Malgas tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa.

Contents

Description

This spreading succulent grows up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall. [1] It has a diameter of up to 40 cm (1.3 ft). [2] It has a tap root and only rarely has adventitious roots. [3] The internodes are red when young, turning ochre with age. They do not have roots and grow up to 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long. [2] The tringualar leaves are free almost to the base and grow 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long and borad and 6 mm (0.24 in) thick. [1] [2] They are green, blue-green or grey-green in colour and have toothed margins. [2] The keel has two or three teeth and each margin has four or five teeth. It is the only species in the genus to also have teeth over the flat sides of the leaf in some leaves. [3] The epidermal bladder cells are completely flattened. [2]

Single flowers are borne on the ends of branches in September. The calyx has five lobes. [2] The bracts grow closely around the short stem holding the flower, embracing the base of the flower. [3] The petals are magenta at the tips and bases and white in between. [1] They have a diameter of 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in). [1] The filaments holding the stamens are white at the base and magenta at the tips. [2]

The fruit is a 5-locular capsule that has a 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) diameter. [1] It is dark grey in colour. It has a flat top and shallow base with raised rimes. The closing body is lens shaped. The fruit opens through short keels becoming erect, causin the closing body to move from the base. [2] The D-shaped seeds are brown. The testa cells are arraned in concentric rows. [2] They are up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long and have an average mass of 20.7 mg (0.00073 oz). [2] [4]

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa. It grows in the Renosterveld biome between Swellendam and Bredasdorp. [2] It grows on stony quartz outcrops on clay. [5] It prefers gently sloping hills. [2]

Etymology

The species name comes from the Latin deminutus, which means reduced or diminutive. This refers to the small size of the leaves of this species. [2]

Conservation

This species is considered to be vulnerable by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. [6] The Swellendam area is highly cultivated, and the plants are potentially at risk of being trampled by or grazed on by livestock in the four locations that they are known from. [2] [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Rhipsalis</i> Genus of cacti

Rhipsalis is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the cactus family, typically known as mistletoe cacti. They are found in parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern regions of South America. They also inhabit isolated locations in Africa and Asia, and are the only cactus group naturally occurring in the Old World. This is the largest and most widely distributed genus of epiphytic cacti.

<i>Ariocarpus scaphirostris</i> Species of cactus

Ariocarpus scaphirostris is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. The Ariocarpus scaphirostris was originally called Ariocarpus scapharostrus in the 1930.

<i>Acrodon</i> Genus of succulents

Acrodon is a genus of ice plants from South Africa. It comprises five species, mostly endangered and all restricted to the southern Cape regions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.

<i>Trichodiadema calvatum</i> Species of succulent

Trichodiadema calvatum is succulent plant of the genus Trichodiadema, native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa, where it is found in shales, in open rocky areas within Renosterveld vegetation.

<i>Trichodiadema occidentale</i> Species of succulent

Trichodiadema occidentale is succulent plant of the genus Trichodiadema, native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa, where it grows in rocky shale or limestone hills in the Overberg region, and especially in disturbed areas.

<i>Trichodiadema pygmaeum</i> Species of succulent

Trichodiadema pygmaeum is succulent plant of the genus Trichodiadema, native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa, where it is found in fine-grained soils in the regions of Bredasdorp and Swellendam.

<i>Drosanthemum micans</i> Species of succulent

Drosanthemum micans, is a succulent plant in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Robertson Karoo and Overberg regions of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

<i>Drosanthemum lavisii</i> Species of succulent

Drosanthemum lavisii is a succulent plant in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Drosanthemum quadratum is a succulent plant in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

<i>Trichodiadema setuliferum</i> Species of succulent

Trichodiadema setuliferum is a succulent plant of the genus Trichodiadema, native to the Karoo regions of the Cape Provinces, South Africa.

<i>Acrodon bellidiflorus</i> South African mesemb species

Acrodon bellidiflorus, the common tiptoothfig, is a mesemb species from South Africa.

Acrodon caespitosus, the Potberg tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa.

Acrodon parvifolius, the Botriver tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa. This species, which grows close to the ground, can best be recognised by its small, thin leaves and its flowers, which form a dome in the middle.

Acrodon subulatus, the Overberg tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa.

<i>Cheiridopsis speciosa</i> South African succulent species

Cheiridopsis speciosa is a species of plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis schlechteri is a species of plant from South Africa. It is a succulent plant that grows in dry habitats.

Cheiridopsis turbinata is a succulent plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis umdausensis is a species of succulent plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis velox is a species of succulent plant from South Africa.

<i>Oreocereus pseudofossulatus</i> Species of cactus

Oreocereus pseudofossulatus is a species of Oreocereus found in Bolivia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Klak, Cornelia (2003). "New combinations, a new genus and five new species in the Aizoaceae". Bradleya. 21 (21): 107–120. doi:10.25223/brad.n21.2003.a16. ISSN   0265-086X.
  3. 1 2 3 Hartmann, Heidrun E.K.; Niesler, Ingeborg M. (2012). "A Gordion knot in Ruschioideae (Aizoaceae): Acrodon and Brianhuntleya in an attempt to disentangle the confusion". Bradleya. 30 (30): 33–60. doi:10.25223/brad.n30.2012.a8. ISSN   0265-086X.
  4. Schmiedel, Ute; Siemen, Svend-Erik; Dludlu, Meshack N.; Oldeland, Jens (2021). "Germination success of habitat specialists from the Succulent Karoo and Renosterveld on different soil types". South African Journal of Botany . 137: 320–330. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2020.10.030 .
  5. Goldblatt, P.; Manning, J. C.; Snijman, D. (2005-08-29). "Cape plants: corrections and additions to the flora. 1". Bothalia. 35 (1): 35–46. doi: 10.4102/abc.v35i1.367 . ISSN   2311-9284.
  6. 1 2 Klak, C.; Helme, N.A.; Raimondo, D.; Victor, J.E. (2005). "Acrodon deminutus Klak. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1". SANBI Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved 22 January 2023.