Caralluma

Caralluma acutangula

Caralluma is a species-rich, more than 60 species, subspecies and varieties comprehensive plant genus of the subfamily milkweed plants ( Asclepiadoideae ), formerly usually considered a separate family, but today mostly as a subfamily of Hundsgiftgewächse family ( Apocynaceae ) has been allocated. The name is derived from the Arabic al - qarh luhum = "wound in the flesh".

Features

The species of the genus Caralluma are perennial stem succulent plants. The shoots are smooth in cross section vierrippig or square, tapering rapidly towards the shoot tip. The ribs are interrupted in some types of warts. The small leaves fall off quickly.

The flowers are single or in a zymösen inflorescence long and bare flower stems. The hermaphrodite, radial symmetry, five petals usually measure only a few centimeters in diameter with a double perianth. The five sepals are fused. The five petals are flat to bell-shaped fused with flat - triangular to long drawn out corolla lobes. The corona is cup-shaped and low or stalked. It is divided into staminale and interstaminale Nebenkrone. There are two free, permanent upper carpels present. The slender, often quite long ( 9-11 cm) follicles are arranged in pairs at right angles or sharp.

Occurrence

This genus is widespread in tropical and subtropical drylands ( arid ) Asia and Africa.

System

The systematics of Caralluma is controversial. So she shares Plowes 1995 in eight genera. From Muller and Albers ( Succulent lexicon ) a subdivision of the genus into four subgenera is possibly also pulled six subgenera or genera into consideration. The species are, however, described conservative under the broad generic name Caralluma:

  • Caralluma ( Caralluma )
  • Caralluma ( Urmalcala )
  • Caralluma ( Boucerosia )
  • Caralluma ( Desmidorchis )
  • Caralluma ( Australluma )
  • Caralluma ( Caudanthera )

Species (according to Muller and Albers Albers & Meve )

  • Caralluma acutangula ( Decne. ) N.E.Br.
  • Caralluma adenensis ( Deflers ) A.Berger
  • Caralluma adscendens Caralluma adscendens var adscendens
  • Caralluma adscendens var attenuata
  • Caralluma adscendens var carinata
  • Caralluma fimbriata var adscendens
  • Caralluma adscendens var geniculata
  • Caralluma adscendens var gracilis
  • Caralluma arachnoides var arachnoides
  • Caralluma arachnoides var breviloba
  • Caralluma turneri subsp. turneri
  • Caralluma turneri subsp. ukambensis
Gentianales Stapeliae Desert climate
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