| Lampranthus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lampranthus glaucoides | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Subfamily: | Ruschioideae |
| Tribe: | Ruschieae |
| Genus: | Lampranthus N.E.Br. [1] |
| Type species | |
| Lampranthus multiradiatus | |
| Species | |
See text | |
Lampranthus is a genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa.
The genus name "Lampranthus" means "shining-flowers" in Greek, and the species of this genus have unusually large, bright flowers, of a range of colours (sometimes even bi-coloured), that usually appear in summer, and frequently cover the plants entirely.
The species of this genus typically have long, smooth, elongated, succulent leaves. These can be triangular or cylindrical, and like all plants in its family, appear in opposite pairs on the shrubs' branches. [2]
Lampranthus can be clearly distinguished from related genera by its seed capsules. The seed capsules of all of these genera have triangular valves, which open when they become wet, exposing the seed chambers (locules). In contrast to Ruschia , each valve in a Lampranthus capsule has two wings, on either side of it, but no visible closing body. Unlike in Delosperma , the seeds in Lampranthus seed chambers are partially covered by a covering membrane. Lampranthus seeds sometimes have visible stalks too.
All Lampranthus species flower between June and August (in the Northern Hemisphere) with flower colours including red, orange, peach, yellow and light pink through to magenta and purple. They are pollinated by many insects, such as bees, wasps and beetles.
As of January 2024 [update] , Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: [3]
These plants are mainly found in Southern Africa, especially in arid areas, such as the Fynbos habitats.
L. aureus and L. spectabilis contain mesembrenol and low levels of related alkaloids such as mesembrenone [4] and have sometimes been mismarketed as kanna ( Mesembryanthemum tortuosum ) extract which contains higher levels of related alkaloids.[ citation needed ]
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.
Mesembryanthemum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. As with many members of that family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of Mesembryanthemum protect their gametes from night-time dews or frosts but open in sunlight. There is an obvious evolutionary advantage to doing this; where sun, dew, frost, wind or predators are likely to damage exposed reproductive organs, closing may be advantageous during times when flowers are unlikely to attract pollinators.
Aptenia is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae. They are native to southern Africa. The genus name is from the Greek a- (not) and ptenos (winged), and refers to the wingless fruit capsules.
Cephalophyllum is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae.
Drosanthemum ("dewflowers") is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to the winter-rainfall regions of southern Africa, including Namibia and the Cape Provinces and Free State of South Africa. Most species bear colorful flowers.
Glottiphyllum is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is closely related to the Gibbaeum and Faucaria genera. The name comes from ancient Greek γλωττίς glottis "tongue" and φύλλον phyllon "leaf". The species are native to South Africa, specifically to Cape Province and the Karoo desert. They grow in rocks and soils incorporating slate, sandstone and quartz. Rainfall in their native areas is between 125 and 500 mm, most of which falls in March and November.
Argyroderma is a genus consisting of a dozen species of succulents in the iceplant family from South Africa.
Glottiphyllum longum is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.
Chasmatophyllum is a genus of succulent plants native to South Africa, Lesotho, and Namibia in southern Africa.
Lampranthus glaucus is a plant species in the genus Lampranthus native to South Africa and naturalized in gardens all around the world.
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.
Pleiospilos compactus, called living rock, is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant genus Pleiospilos, native to the southwestern Cape Provinces of South Africa. A succulent, it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Eberlanzia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae.
Erepsia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae.
Hereroa is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae.
Leipoldtia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae.
Schlechteranthus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae.
Type Name: L. multiradiatus (N. J. Jacquin) N. E. Brown (Mesembryanthemum multiradiatum N. J. Jacquin) Remarks: nom. cons.