Tridentea is a genus of succulent plant in the family Apocynaceae, endemic to southern Africa.[1][2][3]
| Tridentea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Tridentea gemmiflora | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae |
| Tribe: | Ceropegieae |
| Genus: | Tridentea Haw. |
Name and history edit
Tridentea was first described as a genus in 1812, and its name refers to the three "teeth" on each interstaminal segment of its flower ("tri-" = three; "dentis" = teeth). It was subsequently split, and the genus Tromotriche was created for the ten species which were separated.
Description edit
- Vegetative features
Tridentea stems are typically smooth, soft and appear as roughly four-edged in cross section. The four angles are marked by rows of low tubercle mounds. In young growth, each tubercle bears a small splayed leaf-remnant. These fall off with time though. Each leaf remnant is always surrounded by several minute, fat hairs.
- Floral features
Tridentea flowers are flattened, star-shaped, and usually brightly coloured. The most common colouring is a mixed mottling of greenish-yellow with purple. Their inside is usually densely papillate. Flowers appear on minute inflorescences, and each stem bears only one inflorescence, from the stem base.
- Species[4]
- Tridentea aperta (Masson) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea choanantha (Lavranos & Harry Hall) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea dwequensis (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea gemmiflora (Masson) Haw. - southern Africa
- Tridentea herrei (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea jucunda (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea longii (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea longipes (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea marientalensis (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea pachyrrhiza (Dinter) L.C.Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea parvipuncta (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea peculiaris (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea pedunculata (Masson) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea ruschiana (Dinter) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea umdausensis (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
- Tridentea virescens (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach
- formerly included
Tridentea baylissii, syn of Tromotriche baylissii
References edit
- ^ Tropicos
- ^ Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
- ^ Leach, Leslie Charles. 1978. Transactions of the Rhodesia Scientific Association 59(1): 3-5
- ^ The Plant List, Tridentea
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