Malephora

N. E. Brown

Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 81: 12. 1927.

Etymology: Greek malle, arm-hole, and pherein, to bear, in reference to the seed pockets of the fruits
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 89. Mentioned on page 77.
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Shrubs or subshrubs, perennial, succulent. Roots fibrous. Stems erect to prostrate, rooting at older nodes. Leaves cauline, opposite, sessile; stipules absent; blade slightly connate basally, triangular to cylindric, smooth, usually glaucous. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, flowers solitary or in cymes, pedicellate; bracts absent. Flowers showy, tubular, to 5 cm diam.; calyx lobes 4–6, tapered, unequal; petals (including petaloid staminodia) 40–65, distinct, yellow, pink, orange, or reddish to purple; stamens 150, erect, bases often hairy; nectary often present; pistil 8–12-carpellate; ovary mostly inferior, flat apically, 8–12-loculed, each locule with basal pocket containing 1–2 or no seeds; placentation parietal; style absent; stigmas 8–12, plumose. Fruits capsules, persistent, dehiscence loculicidal, not separating into segments; locule lids present, winged. Seeds 75, lenticular, rough; tubercles in rows.

Distribution

Introduced; Africa.

Discussion

Species 13 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa