Ceropegia coddii (R.A.Dyer) Bruyns

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

Morphology General Habit

Dwarf herb 3.5–12 cm high.

Morphology Roots

Root a discoid tuber 20–40(– 200) mm in diameter.

Morphology Stem

Stem procumbent, branching near the base, branches renewed annually, 1–2 mm in diameter, pubescent all round, nodes slightly swollen

Morphology Leaves

Leaves herbaceous; petiole 1–3(–6) mm; lamina broadly ovate to orbicular, (6–)9–20 × 4–16 mm, base obtuse to ± rounded, apex obtuse or rounded, minutely pubescent especially on the veins and midrib beneath, margin undulate or not, ciliolate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence axillary, sessile, 1–2(–3)-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts subulate, ± 1.5 mm long, abaxially pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 3–13(–16) mm, shortly pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals subulate, 2.5–4 × 0.5–1 mm, minutely pubescent at least on the midvein and towards apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower buds at maturity ± 10 mm long, basal half distinctly globular and abruptly narrowing into a broadly triangular beak-like apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 10–11 mm long, 8–15 mm in diameter, exterior glabrous throughout; tube campanulate, dish-shaped, 3–4 mm deep, 4–7 mm in diameter, enclosing the corona; exterior probably yellowish, glabrous, interior cream with red, brown, or black spots, glabrous; lobes 7–8 × 2.5–3 mm, deltoid basal part greenishyellow and narrowing abruptly into linear-oblong processes with acute apex, adaxial surface becoming purple-red or brown towards the apex, covered with spreading white hairs, abaxially yellow

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona discoid, ± 3.5 × 2.5 mm, sessile, biseriate but appearing as if uniseriate, dark brown, pubescent in parts; outer lobes separated by deep V-shaped sinuses, ± 1.2 mm high, fused for ± 0.5 mm at the base, ± square with paired tooth-like auricles, the inner surface of these auricles with stiff white- or purple tinged hairs; inner lobes linear-oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, incumbent on backs of anthers and slightly exceeding them; guide rails ± 0.5 mm long; carpels glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia

Pollinia ± 0.38 × 0.28 mm; corpusculum elliptic ± 0.28 × 0.12 mm, with broad, basal lateral membranes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles paired, acutely divergent, fusiform, tapering at both ends, ± 60 × 4 mm in diameter at centre; seed not known.