Family:
Aizoaceae Martinov

Delosperma N.E.Br.

This genus is accepted, and its native range is Eritrea to S. Africa, W. Indian Ocean, Arabian Peninsula.

[FTEA]

Aïzoaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1961

Morphology General Habit
Decumbent or prostrate succulent perennial herbs, usually branched with distinct internodes and often forming clumps, sometimes tuberous and stemless
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, sessile, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, soft, green, minutely and distinctly papillose, devoid of radiating setae at their tips
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers solitary, terminal or axillary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, 5-lobed, the lobes unequal, the largest one or two horned or tailed and leaf-like
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes many, obvious, petaloid, lanceolate, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens many, free, like the staminodes inserted on the calyx-tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary inferior, of 5 united carpels, 5-celled; stigmas 5, free, style-like; ovules and seeds many per cell, parietal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 5-valved capsule, opening under moist conditions by means of 2 contiguous expanding keels running down the inner face of each valve, the keels membranous-winged in their apical (outer) part
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Cell-wings absent, the cells thus unroofed and the seeds exposed in the expanded capsule.

[FZ]

Mesembryanthemaceae, M. L. Gonçalves. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Decumbent or prostrate creeping shrubs or perennial herbs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, sessile, slightly connate, more or less finely papillose, broadly triangular to cylindrical or ovate, entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers terminal or axillary, solitary or in cymes, pedicellate, with leaf-like bracts, purple or white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth-segments 5, equal or unequal, the longer ones sometimes horn-shaped or caudate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes in few series, more or less linear.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens whitish, sometimes hairy towards the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 5-locular, more or less convex; glands separated, partially crenulated; placentas parietal; stigmas 5, acute, papillose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit 5-locular, keels with membranous marginal wings.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds suborbicular, pale brown.

Native to:

Botswana, Cape Provinces, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Free State, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Northern Provinces, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Bolivia, California, El Salvador, Spain

Delosperma N.E.Br. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status
Jan 31, 2005 Pearson, H. H. W. [4903], South Africa K000077134 Unknown type material
Smith, C.A. [6279], South Africa 12276.000
35356.001
35389.000
Gomes e Sousa, A. [3344], Mozambique 8646.000

First published in Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 78: 412 (1925)

Accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. (2000). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS D: 1-30141.

Literature

Flora Zambesiaca

  • in Burtt Davy, F.P.F.T. 1: 157 (1926).
  • in Gard. Chron. 78: 412 & 433 in clave (1925)

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • in Burtt-Davy, Man. Fl. Pl. Transv. 1: 157 (1926)
  • in Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 78: 412 & 433 (1925) in clave;

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    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 Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0