Apocynaceae
Ceropegia

Ceropegia volubilis N.E.Br.

First published in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 261 (1895)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. DR Congo to N. Botswana. It is a climber and grows primarily in the seasonally dry 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]

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
Angola, Welwitsch 4272 (BM000930078 lectotype, COI00071476, K000305463, P00109700), lectotypified by Huber (1958), see note below.
Morphology Roots
Roots clustered, fleshy, fusiform
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Tuber absent
Morphology Stem
Stem twining, fleshy, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ± fleshy; petiole 7–18 mm long; leaf blade cordate-ovate, 20–80 × 12–34 mm, base cordate, margin ciliolate, apex acuminate, mucronate, both surfaces glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence extra-axillary; peduncle 12–30 mm long, glabrous; cymes 2–4-flowered, flowers opening in succession
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicel 6–10 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals subulate, c.3 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 17–45 mm long; bent at right angles above basal inflation; tube 12–30 mm long, basal inflation globose, 5–7 mm wide, limb gradually expanding to mouth, exterior whitish speckled purple; glabrous, interior with long hairs in basal inflation then glabrous then with band of long hairs just below mouth; lobes deltoid-oblong, 5–10 mm long, plicate, converging gradually, apices connate to form beaked cage, adaxially densely purplish pilose towards apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona sessile; outer corona lobes deeply bifid, ciliate; inner lobes converging over gynostegium, linear, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Follicles and seed not recorded.
Distribution
Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi. Also in Angola, D.R. Congo.
Ecology
On Euphorbia matabelensis, Acacia, Bosciaalbitrunca, etc. in mixed deciduous scrub woodland on sand; 700–1500 m.
Conservation
probably LC: widely but sparsely distributed.
[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 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