Ceropegia woodii Schltr.

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, Natal, Groenberg, Wood 1317 (B† holotype, NH0004120-0 lectotype), designated here.

Morphology Roots

Roots fibrous

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tuber subglobose, to 2.5 cm diam., adventitious tubers often at nodes of branches

Morphology Stem

Stems several from base, usually pendant, less often twining, somewhat branched, to 1 m long, c.1 mm diam., glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves succulent; petiole 1–12 mm long, glabrous; leaf blade mostly cordate-ovate to reniform-cordate, sometimes narrower, 6–18(35?) × 4–20 mm, base subcordate, margin entire, apex shortly acuminate, often with greyish variegated veins, less often uniformly green, adaxially often with distinct, coloured veins, both surfaces glabrous to sparsely hirsute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence extra-axillary, peduncle 4–15 mm long; glabrous; sometimes producing successive cymes along short fleshy rachis, 1–3-flowered, flowers opening in succession

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicel 2.5–10 mm long, suberect, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1.2–3 mm long, acute, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower bud with raised sinuses and clavate beak

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla (10)16.5–25(27.5) mm long, straight or nearly so; tube 10–17(20) mm long, basal chamber globose, 2.6–5 mm wide, abruptly narrowed at apex, limb cylindrical, 1.3–1.7(2.5) mm wide, widening to (2.6)3.4–5 mm at mouth, exterior pale purplish or green with purple longitudinal stripes, glabrous, sometimes slightly ridged, interior hairy; sinuses rounded, spreading and gaping; lobes linear-spathulate, 3.8–7.5 mm long, inflexed at base, S-shaped, plicate, apices connate to form cylindrical-clavate cage narrower than mouth, adaxially uniformly dark purplish, densely purple pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona white; outer lobes pouch-like, oval, sometimes joined across base of inner lobes, spreading, entire, c.0.5 mm long, lower than staminal column, glabrous; inner lobes converging over gynostegium, linear-lanceolate to spathulate-lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, far longer than outer lobes, Follicles diverging, narrowly fusiform, 5–7 cm long, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed not recorded.

Distribution

Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Also South Africa, Eswatini.

Ecology

Brachystegia –Pterocarpus rotundifolius woodland. Sandy soil over granite, locally abundant on termitaria; 550–1100 m.

Conservation

Overall status LC, infrequently collected within the Flora area but common in South Africa and Eswatini.

Use

This is by far and away the most widely cultivated member of the genus and it is possible that some of the records from the Flora area are escapes from cultivation.