Cryptolepis R.Br.

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

Morphology General Habit

Climbers, shrubs or small trees; latex white

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite on normal shoots, ± clustered on stunted shoots, petiolate to sessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences few–many-flowered or flowers solitary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube campanulate and shorter than lobes, rarely cylindrical and longer than lobes, mostly with elliptic papillose spot below every corona-lobe, gynostegium enclosed and concealed within corolla-tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona inserted at middle of corolla-tube; lobes clavate, subulate, triangular, arrow-like or filiform, mostly hidden in corolla-tube; extra corona of pockets or corniculate or filiform lobes from sinuses of corolla-lobes sometimes present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens inserted at base of corolla-tube; anthers deltoid to hastate, glabrous or rarely hairy; pollen in tetrads

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Interstaminal nectiferous pouches at base of corolla-tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic head conical; pollen translators narrowly elliptic. Follicles paired, widely to narrowly divergent, cylindrical-ovoid to narrowly ovoid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with tuft of hairs at one end.

Distribution

Over 40 species in Africa and Asia, the vast majority in Africa and on Socotra.

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Mesophytic climbers or sclerophyllous shrubs, scramblers or small trees with white or occasionally yellow or orange latex; interpetiolar ridges and leaf axils with reddish dentate colleters

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite on normal shoots, sub-fascicled on stunted shoots, petiolate to sessile; blade herbaceous, leathery or succulent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences few to many-flowered or flowers solitary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower buds with corolla apex helically twisted and deltoid to apiculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube campanulate and shorter than lobes, rarely cylindrical and longer than lobes, mostly with elliptic papillose spot below every corona lobe; lobes linear to ovate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corolline corona 1- or 2-whorled; lower whorl of lobes inserted around middle of corolla tube, mostly concealed; lobes clavate, acicular, peg-like or filiform, glabrous, free; upper whorl, when present, of simple pockets or lobed pockets in corolla lobe sinuses Gynostegial corona absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens inserted near base of corolla tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments short, mostly dilated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers deltoid to hastate, glabrous or rarely hairy; pollen in tetrads

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Insterstaminal nectifery pouches at base of corolla tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style-head deltoid, broadly deltoid, ovoid or broadly ovoid, translators with receptacle concavely narrowly elliptic and sessile on sticky disc.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium

Gynostegium concealed at bottom of corolla tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles paired, widely to narrowly divergent, cylindrical-ovoid to narrowly ovoid.

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Morphology General Habit

Lianas with white latex; stems woody, twining

Morphology Leaves

Leaves glabrous, petiolate, leathery; blade broadly ovate to elliptic, obtuse to cuspidate, base cordate, above glossy, green, below pale green, secondary veins divaricate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, many-flowered, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals glabrous, with colleters at their inner bases

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla coriaceous, deep crimson, purplish or pink

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corolline corona with coronal feet fused to stamens and nectaries forming a collar; stamens arising directly below corona lobes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium

Gynostegial corona absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style terete; style-head deltoid, obtuse; translator with receptacle, stalk and sticky disc. Follicles paired, horizontally opposite.

Distribution

A genus of 2 species, endemic to tropical Africa.

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Lianas with white latex.

Morphology Stem

Stems woody, twining

Morphology Leaves

Leaves glabrous, petiolate, leathery

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, many-flowered, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals glabrous, with colleters at their inner bases.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla coriaceous, deep crimson, purplish or pink

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corolline corona near base of corolla tube or on inversion of corolla tube, coronal feet fused to stamens and nectaries forming a collar Gynostegial corona absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens arising from inner base of coronal feet; pollen in tetrads

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style terete; style-head deltoid, obtuse; translator with receptacle, stalk and sticky disc

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles paired, horizontally opposite

Note

Young stems, leaves, peduncles and flowers of both species turn black when drying. The flowers are so different in morphology that the two species were separated in different genera (Venter & Verhoeven in S. Afr. Journ. Bot. 62: 23–30 (1996)), but DNA-analysis proves them to be sister species (Ionta & Judd in Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 94: 372 (2007)).