Crassulaceae
Umbilicus

Umbilicus botryoides Hochst. ex A.Rich.

First published in Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 308 (1848)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Cameroon, Eritrea to Tanzania, SW. Angola. It is an epiphyte and grows primarily in the montane tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Crassulaceae, G.E. Wickens. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit
Rootstock globose to cylindrical, up to 4 cm. diameter, covered by fibrous roots.
Morphology Leaves
Basal leaves arising from rootstock; lamina peltate, ± circular, concave, up to 9 cm. diameter, fleshy, dark green, glabrous, upper and lower surfaces sparsely glandular-papillate, margin crenate to sinuate; petiole up to 13 cm. long. Lower cauline leaves similar to basal leaves but smaller, upper leaves and bracts progressively smaller, circular-cordate to spathulate, peltate to basally attached.
Morphology General Shoots
Annual flowering shoots from rootstock usually simple, rarely branched, up to 38 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a simple raceme, rarely shortly branched, up to 20 cm. long; pedicels 1–6 mm. long; flowers horizontal or pendulous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate to broadly triangular-ovate, 2–2.5 mm. long, 1–2 mm. broad, shortly connate at the base, persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla whitish green with reddish markings, urceolate, 8 mm. long, 5 mm. diameter; lobes broadly ovate, 2 mm. long, acuminate-cucculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamen-filaments adnate to the corolla-tube to just below the lobes, free for 0.5 mm.; anthers ± 0.5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries
Nectary scales linear-oblong, 2 mm. long, 0.5 mm. broad, retuse.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Carpels 5, erect; style recurved, ± 0.5 mm. long; stigma a terminal disc.
Figures
Fig. 10.
Habitat
Shady rocks or epiphytic on trees, in bamboo or Podocarpus forest or upland grassland; 2100–3900 m.
Distribution
K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 T2 T4 U1 U2 U3
[FTEA]

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution
East Africa
Morphology Roots
Rootstock globose to cylindrical, covered by fibrous roots
Morphology Leaves
Basal leaves peltate; petiole up to 13 cm long; blade up to 9 cm in diam., with crenate to sinuate margin
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Raceme erect, up to 30 cm high, usually unbranched; flowers horizontal or pendulous with pedicels 1–6 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla greenish-white or flushed purple, urceolate, 5.5–8 mm long, with ovate, acuminate lobes, 2–3 mm long.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0