| Pseudolithos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pseudolithos migiurtinus plant in cultivation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae |
| Tribe: | Ceropegieae |
| Genus: | Pseudolithos P.R.O.Bally |
Pseudolithos is a genus of succulent flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae, indigenous to arid areas of Somalia, Yemen and Oman.
The plants were first described as a genus in 1965; the name "Pseudo-lithos" means "false-stone" and refers to their pebble-like appearance. It was originally proposed as Lithocaulon earlier in 1956, but this name was already in use for a genus of fossil algae. [1] All species in this genus are highly succulent, small in size, and exhibit tessellation on their stems' surface. Their small flowers appear on the spherical body's surface. [2] [3]
| picture | species | distribution |
|---|---|---|
 | Pseudolithos caput-viperae Lavranos | Somalia |
 | Pseudolithos cubiformis (P.R.O. Bally) P.R.O. Bally | N Somalia |
 | Pseudolithos dodsonianus (Lavranos) Bruyns & Meve | Somalia & Oman |
| Pseudolithos gigas Dioli | E Ethiopia | |
| Pseudolithos harardheranus Dioli | Somalia | |
| Pseudolithos horwoodii P.R.O. Bally & Lavranos | Somalia | |
 | Pseudolithos mccoyi Lavranos | Yemen & Oman |
| | Pseudolithos migiurtinus (Chiov.) P.R.O. Bally | S + C Somalia |
| Pseudolithos sphaericus (P.R.O. Bally) P.R.O. Bally | N Somalia |
Phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be monophyletic, and most closely related to the widespread Caralluma stapeliads of North Africa. Marginally more distantly related is a sister branch comprising the genera Echidnopsis and Rhytidocaulon . [5]
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