Cheiridopsis schlechteri

Last updated

Cheiridopsis schlechteri
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Cheiridopsis
Species:
C. schlechteri
Binomial name
Cheiridopsis schlechteri
Tischer
Synonyms [1]
  • Cheiridopsis johannis-winkleriSchwantes
  • Cheiridopsis paucifolia L.Bolus
  • Cheiridopsis pulverulenta L.Bolus

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

Contents

Description

These plants grow as cushion-like clumps with a height of 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) and diameter of 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in). [2] [3] The paired leaves are a dark grey-green in colour, particularly on the margins. They are also spotted with idioblasts. [2] The leaves do not form resting sheaths, but shrivel and are held close to the plant when they are dormant. [2]

This species shows much geographic variability. [2] The plants north of Eenriet and Steinkopf have white leaves with long papillae, while those around Gamoep have darker green leaves, raised idioblasts, and thicker reddish margins. [2] [3] The population around Eenriet was initially classified as Cheiridopsis pulverulenta but many intermediate forms between this form and the more typical specimens have since been found. [2] Plants on the Geelvlei plateau are particularly small, with diameters of less than 2 cm (0.79 in). While the bright conditions they grow in n this region stunts their growth, there may be a genetic component as even cultivated specimens remain this small. [2]

Solitarily borne flowers are most common in mid-winter but are present into spring (between August and September). [2] [4] They range in colour from ivory (in Areb and Umduas) to lemon yellow (in Springbok) to a bright yellow-orange and are large relative to the size of the plant (diameter of 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in)). [2] [3] Some flowers may also show a faint pink blush. [2]

While 10-locular fruit are most common, the fruit range between 9-12-locular. [4]

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa. [5] It prefers dry habitats. [6] It grows on gneiss slopes, or on quartzite, shale or calcrete flats between Eenriet, Umduas, Gamoep and Bushmanland. [4]

Conservation

Cheiridopsis schlechteri is considered to be of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Felicia filifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Felicia filifolia is a Southern African member of the family Asteraceae. It is a hardy, sprawling shrub growing to about 1 metre tall. Leaves are narrow and clustered along the twigs. When blooming it is densely covered in flowerheads with ray florets that are pink-mauve to white and disc florets that are yellow. In the wild, flowers can be found August to December.

<i>Ixia monadelpha</i> South African geophyte

Ixia monadelpha, also known as the pied kalossie or bontkalossie, is an endangered species of geophyte found in wet sandy flats in the southwestern Cape of South Africa.

<i>Urera trinervis</i> Species of flowering plant

Urera trinervis (Hochst.) Friis & Immelman is a softly woody dioecious liane, sometimes epiphytic, climbing to 20 m, often to the canopy and hanging in festoons. It is one of some 44 species of Urera belonging to the nettle family Urticaceae. It is known in English as the tree climbing-nettle or climbing nettle.

<i>Protea burchellii</i> Species of flowering plant

Protea burchellii, also known as Burchell's sugarbush, is a flowering shrub in the genus Protea, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.

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

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.

Isoetes stellenbossiensis, the Stellenbosch quillwort or Cape Flats quillwort, is a species of plant from South Africa.

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

Cheiridopsis speciosa is a species of plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis turbinata is a succulent plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis umbrosa is a succulent plant from South Africa.

Cheiridopsis purpurea is a species of succulent plant from South Africa. It is found growing in the succulent Karoo vegetation type.

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.

<i>Helichrysum retortum</i> South African plant species

Helichrysum retortum, the flask everlasting or sea strawflower, is a species of plant from South Africa.

<i>Nemesia linearis</i> Southern African plant species

Nemesia linearis, also known as the witleeubekkie in Afrikaans, is a species of plant from southern Africa. It is found in South Africa and Namibia.

<i>Hebenstretia fastigiosa</i> South African plant species

Hebenstretia fastigiosa is a species of plant from South Africa. It belongs to the figwort family.

Lachenalia variegata, also known as the spotty viooltjie, is a species of plant from the Western Cape of South Africa.

References

  1. "Cheiridopsis schlechteri". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hammer, Steven (1993). "Macro-Observations on Cheiridopsis N.E.Br. and Odontophorus N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae)". Bradleya. 11 (11): 75–85. doi:10.25223/brad.n11.1993.a5. ISSN   0265-086X. S2CID   91077749.
  3. 1 2 3 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
  4. 1 2 3 Snijman, D.A. (2013). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Regionn, Vol. 2: the Extra Cape flora (PDF). Strelitzia. John Manning, Peter Goldblatt. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute. ISBN   978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC   866860203.
  5. 1 2 Raimondo, D.; Matlamela, P.F.; Kamundi, D.A. (2008). "Cheiridopsis schlechteri Tischer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1". SANBI Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. "Cheiridopsis schlechteri Tischer | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-01-31.