Apocynaceae
Asclepias

Asclepias albens (E.Mey.) Schltr.

First published in Beibl. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 5 (1896)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Mozambique to S. Africa. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the subtropical 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]

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.

Type
South Africa, “EM a: propeGeelhoutboom”, Drège 3414 (K herb. Hook. lectotype, K herb. Benth.), lectotype designated here; Drèges.n. (HAL); “EM b: propeOmsamcaba”, Drèges.n. (K paralectotype); “EM c: Witbergen”, Drèges.n. (HAL paralectotype).
Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb with 1 or more annual stems arising from a vertical tuber; stems 20–40 cm long, branched near base, spreading below then ascending to erect, pubescent with spreading white hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves with pedicels 1–5 mm long; lamina 2–5 × 1.5–3 cm, mostly ovate-triangular but sometimes oblong, acute, base rounded, truncate or weakly cordate, venation generally visible, indumentum of somewhat scabrid white hairs on both surfaces
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal with up to around 30 flowers per umbel, peduncles 2–10 cm long, erect, pubescent; pedicels 10– 25 mm long, pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx lobes 3 × 1 mm, lanceolate, acute, pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla reflexed, purplish outside, white or greenish within, minutely pubescent; lobes 5–6 × 2.5–5 mm, obovate, subacute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona white, yellow or greenish brown; lobes 2 mm high and as tall as the column, cucullate but with the fleshy midline ascending or erect and 2–3 mm long; interstaminal corona lobes vestigial-Anther wings 1–1.3 mm long, narrowly triangular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruiting pedicel contorted to hold follicle erect; follicle 4–5 × 1.5 cm, narrowly ovoid an attenuate beak, not inflated, smooth or very weakly ridged, minutely puberulent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds not seen.
Distribution
Mozambique. Northern and Eastern provinces of South Africa and Eswatini.
Ecology
Rocky ground; 500 m.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • 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 2024. 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 2024. 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