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.

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