| Cheiridopsis purpurea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Cheiridopsis |
| Species: | C. purpurea |
| Binomial name | |
| Cheiridopsis purpurea L.Bolus | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Cheiridopsis purpurea is a species of succulent plant from South Africa. It is found growing in the succulent Karoo vegetation type.
This small and robus clump-forming succulent grows 8–12 cm (3.1–4.7 in) tall with a diameter of up to 40 cm (16 in). [2] [3] It often becomes raggedy with age. [3] The triangular leaves are paired, with both leaves in each pair being about the same size (3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long). Cultivated specimens may have three pairs of leaves per branch, while those in the wild have one or two pairs per branch. The leaves are fused when young, separating as they mature. [2] They are grey-green in colour with slightly crimped margins and are spotted with transparent dots. [2] [3] They have a keel, which may or may not have teeth. [2] The old leaves form persistent corky brown sheaths that protect new growth when they dry out and die. [2]
Flowers are present between June and September. [2] [4] They are open between midday and sunset, closing for the night and morning. [2] They have a diameter of about 4 cm (1.6 in) and are a bright magenta in colour. [2] [4] This species differs from others in this genus in that the petals do not fully unfold, but hide the stamens and feather stigmas. [2] The anthers are grey. [4]
This plant forms a cylindrical 10-locular fruit. [4] They have stiff bristles at the tips of the expanding keels. [2]
This species is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa. It has a range of less than 500 km2 (190 sq mi) between Karrachab and Maerfontein in the Richtersveld region. [4] [5] It is found growing in crevices in quartzite bands in sandstone areas. [5]
This species was first described in 1931 by Harriet Margaret Louisa Bolus. [2] The scientific name refers to the colour of the flowers.
This plant is pollinated by insects. [2]
The capsules open when wet, releasing only a few seeds at a time. This ensures that seeds are still available should conditions be more favourable further down the line. This complex capsule is important in light of the relatively short lifespan of this species. [2] It is beneficial to set seed whenever conditions may be suitable for new growth, while still holding out for times when conditions make it more likely that young plants survive.
While this species is not currently threatened, it is considered to be rare by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due as it is a habitat specialist and has a small range. The combination of these two factors mean that it is not a common species, even if it is not yet uncommon enough or threatened enough to be considered at risk of extinction. [5]
The Aizoaceae, or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1800 species. They are commonly known as ice plants or carpet weeds. They are often called vygies in South Africa and New Zealand. Highly succulent species that resemble stones are sometimes called mesembs.
Astroloba rubriflora is a succulent plant found in the mountainous Karoo area around Robertson, South Africa. It is listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN global Red List.
Moraea aristata is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is referred to by the common names blue-eyed uintjie or Blouooguintjie in Afrikaans.It is endemic to the city of Cape Town and is considered to be critically endangered.
Cleretum bellidiforme, commonly called Livingstone daisy, Bokbaaivygie (Afrikaans), or Buck Bay vygie, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. It is a low-growing succulent annual growing to 25 cm (10 in), and cultivated for its iridescent, many-petalled, daisy-like blooms in shades of white, yellow, orange, cream, pink and crimson. In temperate areas it is popularly grown as a half-hardy annual, and lends itself to mass plantings or as edging plants in summer bedding schemes in parks and gardens. It is still widely referenced under its former names, Mesembryanthemum criniflorum and Dorotheanthus bellidiformis.
Gladiolus alatus is a species of geophyte from South Africa. Common names include painted ladies, king kalkoentjie and kipkippie. Kalkoentjie means "little turkey" in Afrikaans and refers to the shape of the flower, which resembles a turkey's wattle. It is popular as a garden plant and an important part of the cut flower industry in parts of the world on account of its large and showy orange flowers.
Astroloba spiralis is a small succulent plant of the Astroloba genus, endemic to the southern Karoo regions of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.
Delosperma lehmannii is a succulent plant native to parts of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Sometimes called ice plant, it is grown as a decorative houseplant for its distinctive smooth, angular leaves. The specific epithet lehmannii honors the German professor of botany in Hamburg Johann Georg Christian Lehmann.
Acrodon bellidiflorus, the common tiptoothfig, is a mesemb species from South Africa.
Acrodon deminutus, also known as the Malgas tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb 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.
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 umbrosa 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.
Cheiridopsis pilosula is a species of succulent plant from Namaqualand in the Northern Cape of South Africa.
Cheiridopsis ponderosa is a species of succulent plant from South Africa.
Lachenalia variegata, also known as the spotty viooltjie, is a species of plant from the Western Cape of South Africa.