Trichodiadema setuliferum

Trichodiadema setuliferum is a succulent plant of the genus Trichodiadema, native to the Karoo regions of the Cape Provinces, South Africa.

Trichodiadema setuliferum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Trichodiadema
Species:
T. setuliferum
Binomial name
Trichodiadema setuliferum

Description

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The papillate bladder cells on Trichodiadema setuliferum leaves.

It is a small, gracile, semi-erect plant, with long and minutely-papillate internodes.

The leaves can reach a length of 24 mm, and are covered in bladder cells that have apically curving hair-like papillae.

Apically the leaves are slightly recurved, and each has a diadem of up to 16 yellow-orange bristles.

The flowers are pink to magenta.

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This species is very similar to the partly syntopic Trichodiadema pomeridianum and Trichodiadema rogersiae.

T. setuliferum can be distinguished from the other two by its papillate bladder cells; while those of the other two species are smooth and without papillae.

In addition, Trichodiadema pomeridianum has much shorter leaves (only c.15 mm), while Trichodiadema rogersiae is a smaller plant with thicker, stronger branches. There are also fewer diadem bristles on both Trichodiadema pomeridianum (only 3-8) and Trichodiadema rogersiae (only 5-9). [1][2]

References

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  1. ^ Hartmann, H.E.K.; Niesler, I.M. (2013). "A new morphological study of the genus Trichodiadema (Aizoaceae) permits the description of a new subgenus, T. subg. Gemiclausa". Bradleya. 31 (31): 58–75. doi:10.25223/brad.n31.2013.a9. S2CID 89743988.
  2. ^ Hartmann, H.E.K (2017). Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z. Springer-Verlag.

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