Pleiospilos
Pleiospilos nelii
Pleiospilos is a plant genus of the family of Mesembryanthemum plants ( Aizoaceae ). The botanical name of the genus is derived from the Greek words pleio for " many" and οπίλος ( Spilos ) for " spot" and refers to the many small spots visible on the leaves.
Description
The plants of the genus Pleiospilos compact to grow grass -like and are rarely not branched. Each branch bears one to four pairs of leaves. The gray-green or brownish, fused at the base leaves are triangular to semi- spherical and curved along widened to. Their surface is covered with a thick irregular layer of wax that is easy to rub. By located beneath the crystal- free outer Epidermiswand tannin idioblasts the leaves look mottled from. The stomata of the epidermis are not sunk.
Appear up to three flowers solitary or in small groups over bracts. The calyx is five - to six - ( rarely up to eight ) cuspidate. The numerous petals are yellow or rarely white in color and sometimes grown above the ovary into a short tube. The dark green nectaries form an inconspicuous ring and surround the upright, papillenlosen stamens. Resemble the dark brown, raised at the top and rounded fruits which the genus Leipoldtia.
All species bloom in her home in the fall. The only exception is Pleiospilos nelii that blooms in winter. The highly fragrant flowers open in late afternoon and stay until just after dusk opened.
The 9 - to 16 - fächrigen fruit capsules have wide, tapered wing cover at the top. The dark brown, papillose seeds are oval and 1 to 1.5 mm long and 0.9 to 1.3 millimeters wide.
Systematics, chromosome number and distribution
The distribution of the genus Pleiospilos extends into South Africa from the west of the Eastern Cape Province, on the south of the province North Cape to the east of the Western Cape. The main distribution area is located in the Little Karoo. The plants grow on north facing red-brown shale slopes or in levels with an annual rainfall between 200 and 400 mm, which falls mainly in March and November.
The chromosome number.
The first description was published in 1925 by Nicholas Edward Brown. The type species is Pleiospilos compactus. A revision of the genus was made in 1986 by Heidrun Hartmann ( b. 1942 ) and Sigrid songs (* 1957). According to Hartmann ( 2001), the genus is divided into two subgenera with the following species and subspecies:
- Subgenus Pleiospilos Pleiospilos simulans N.E.Br.
- Pleiospilos bolusii N.E.Br.
- Pleiospilos nelii Schwantes
- Pleiospilos compactus Schwantes Pleiospilos compactus subsp. compactus
- Pleiospilos compactus subsp. canus ( Haw. ) H.E.K.Hartmann & songs
- Pleiospilos compactus subsp. minor ( L.Bolus ) H.E.K.Hartmann & songs
- Pleiospilos compactus subsp. fergusoniae ( L.Bolus ) H.E.K.Hartmann & songs
- Pleiospilos compactus subsp. sororius ( N.E.Br. ) H.E.K.Hartmann & songs