Lapidaria (plant)
Lapidaria margaretae
Lapidaria margaretae is the only species of the monotypic genus Lapidaria from the family of Mesembryanthemum plants ( Aizoaceae ). The botanical name of the genus derives from the Latin word " lapis " for "Stone " from and points to the stone-like appearance of the plant. The epithet of the species honors the resident in the Namibian town of Warmbad German teacher Margaret Friedrich, who discovered the plant.
Description
Lapidaria margaretae grows compact with a (rarely to three or more) branches, where each year two to three pairs of leaves are formed (in culture, there may be more). The pale pink or whitish leaves are rounded - triangular, keeled and have clear, hard edges. Its surface is of tiny rough structure.
The solitary flowers appear on a laterally compressed peduncle. There are no bracts present. There are eight ( rarely six or seven) sepals and about 100 gold, yellow petals present. The approximately 300 to 500 stamens are more or less upright. The nectaries are fused ring and not clearly visible.
Lapidaria margaretae flowers in their home in the months of March to September. The flowers open during the day.
The seven - (rare six - to nine - ) fächrigen capsule fruits resemble those of the genus Titanopsis. The small, light brown seeds are pear-shaped, about 0.6 mm long and about 0.5 mm wide.
Systematics, chromosome number and distribution
The distribution area of Lapidaria margaretae extends from the Namibian town of Warmbad up in the adjoining South African province of North Cape. It grows on quartz-bearing levels between loose stones. The annual rainfall is about 250 millimeters, with the majority falling in the month of March.
The chromosome number.
The first description as Mesembryanthemum margaretae was published in 1920 by Gustav Schwantes. Together with Kurt Dinter 1928 he presented the genus Lapidaria on. Synonyms are Dinteranthus margaretae and Argyroderma margaretae.