Phaeoptilum

Brittle thorn
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Nyctaginaceae
Tribe:	Bougainvilleae
Genus:	Phaeoptilum Radlk.
Species:	P. spinosum
Binomial name
Phaeoptilum spinosum Radlk.
range [1] [2] [3]
Synonyms
Amphoranthus spinosus (Radlk.) S.Moore Phaeoptilum heimerli Engl.

Phaeoptilum spinosum (brittle thorn) is a shrub that occurs in central Namibia. It is the only species in the genus Phaeoptilum. It is a valuable drought-resistant fodder plant, browsed by goats and kudu. The bush bears winged red fruits in October. ^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Habit in the Naukluft
• 
  Foliage in fascicles
• 
  Anthocarp fruit
• 
  Anthocarp fruit

References

1. Foden, W. & Potter, L. 2005. Phaeoptilum spinosum Radlk. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2017.1. Accessed on 2019/09/17
2. Phaeoptilum spinosum, Jan 2015, M. Struwig, Stefan Siebert, Louis Zietsman, Gill Condy
3. Nyctaginaceae: A taxonomic treatment for the Flora of Namibia, M. Struwig, Esmerialda Suzetta Klaassen, Ezekeil G. Kwembeya
4. Rothauge, Axel (25 February 2014). "Staying afloat during a drought". The Namibian . Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.

External links

• Gallery
• Article 'Bäume an Rastplätzen und Fernstraßen' Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine