Ceropegia: Difference between revisions
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'''''Ceropegias''''' are an interesting group of plants which have attracted much attention from botanists, horticulturalists, gardeners, succulent enthusiasts. Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in |
'''''Ceropegias''''' are an interesting group of plants which have attracted much attention from botanists, horticulturalists, gardeners, succulent enthusiasts. Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in volume 1 of his ''Species plantarum'' which appeared in 1753, thought that the flowers looked like a fountain of wax from which their name is derived - ‘''keros''’ meaning wax and ‘''pege''’ meaning fountain (Pooley, 1998). They have many common names including lantern flower, parasol flower, parachute flower, bushman’s pipe, string-of-hearts, snake creeper, wine-glass vine, rosary vine, necklace vine and condom flower. |
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They may be described as perennial herbs, sometimes succulent and often twining. The leaves are opposite, sometimes fleshy and occasionally rudimentary. Flower tubes are long with lobes often fused at tips into an umbrella-like canopy, a cage like form or with appendage-like antennae (Dyer, 1983). An interesting feature of Ceropegias is that their flower tubes are lined with small hairs that point downward to form a trap for small flies. When flies are attracted into the flower by the odour they are prevented from escaping until the hairs wither, the pollinia of the Ceropegia flower being attached to the flies’ bodies when they escape. |
They may be described as perennial herbs, sometimes succulent and often twining. The leaves are opposite, sometimes fleshy and occasionally rudimentary. Flower tubes are long with lobes often fused at tips into an umbrella-like canopy, a cage like form or with appendage-like antennae (Dyer, 1983). An interesting feature of Ceropegias is that their flower tubes are lined with small hairs that point downward to form a trap for small flies. When flies are attracted into the flower by the odour they are prevented from escaping until the hairs wither, the pollinia of the Ceropegia flower being attached to the flies’ bodies when they escape. |
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The genus Ceropegia belongs to the '''Asclepiadoideae''' (Milkweed) sub-family within the family '''Apocynaceae'''. Species of this genus bear similarities to the carrion flowers or Stapelias. There are between 160 and 200 species world wide and they are found widely from the [[Canary Islands]], [[Africa]], [[Madagascar]], [[Arabia]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], southern [[China]], [[Indonesia]], the [[Philippines]], [[New Guinea]] and [[Queensland]]. |
The genus Ceropegia belongs to the '''Asclepiadoideae''' (Milkweed) sub-family within the family '''Apocynaceae'''. Species of this genus bear similarities to the carrion flowers or Stapelias. There are between 160 and 200 species world wide and they are found widely from the [[Canary Islands]], [[Africa]], [[Madagascar]], [[Arabia]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], southern [[China]], [[Indonesia]], the [[Philippines]], [[New Guinea]] and [[Queensland]]. |
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A generic complex with many interesting taxonomic problems at both generic and specific level are formed by three genera: ''Ceropegia'', ''Brachystelma'' and ''Riocreuxia''. |
A generic complex with many interesting taxonomic problems at both generic and specific level are formed by three genera: ''Ceropegia'', ''[[Brachystelma]]'' and ''[[Riocreuxia]]''. |
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The plant stems are vining or trailing in most species, though a few species from the Canary Islands have erect growth habits. Among some species, such as ''Ceropegia woodii'', the nodes may swell, and the roots similarly expand to form tubers beneath the soil surface. The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple and opposite, although they can be rudimentary or absent. The [[flower]]s have a tubular [[corolla]] with five [[petal]]s most often fused at the tips, forming a cage-like structure. |
The plant stems are vining or trailing in most species, though a few species from the Canary Islands have erect growth habits. Among some species, such as ''Ceropegia woodii'', the nodes may swell, and the roots similarly expand to form tubers beneath the soil surface. The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple and opposite, although they can be rudimentary or absent. The [[flower]]s have a tubular [[corolla]] with five [[petal]]s most often fused at the tips, forming a cage-like structure. |
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Revision as of 14:11, 24 July 2006
| Ceropegia | |
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| Ceropegia distincta var haygarthii | |
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| Genus: | Ceropegia |
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See text. | |
Ceropegias are an interesting group of plants which have attracted much attention from botanists, horticulturalists, gardeners, succulent enthusiasts. Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in volume 1 of his Species plantarum which appeared in 1753, thought that the flowers looked like a fountain of wax from which their name is derived - ‘keros’ meaning wax and ‘pege’ meaning fountain (Pooley, 1998). They have many common names including lantern flower, parasol flower, parachute flower, bushman’s pipe, string-of-hearts, snake creeper, wine-glass vine, rosary vine, necklace vine and condom flower.
They may be described as perennial herbs, sometimes succulent and often twining. The leaves are opposite, sometimes fleshy and occasionally rudimentary. Flower tubes are long with lobes often fused at tips into an umbrella-like canopy, a cage like form or with appendage-like antennae (Dyer, 1983). An interesting feature of Ceropegias is that their flower tubes are lined with small hairs that point downward to form a trap for small flies. When flies are attracted into the flower by the odour they are prevented from escaping until the hairs wither, the pollinia of the Ceropegia flower being attached to the flies’ bodies when they escape.
The genus Ceropegia belongs to the Asclepiadoideae (Milkweed) sub-family within the family Apocynaceae. Species of this genus bear similarities to the carrion flowers or Stapelias. There are between 160 and 200 species world wide and they are found widely from the Canary Islands, Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, southern China, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea and Queensland.
A generic complex with many interesting taxonomic problems at both generic and specific level are formed by three genera: Ceropegia, Brachystelma and Riocreuxia.
The plant stems are vining or trailing in most species, though a few species from the Canary Islands have erect growth habits. Among some species, such as Ceropegia woodii, the nodes may swell, and the roots similarly expand to form tubers beneath the soil surface. The leaves are simple and opposite, although they can be rudimentary or absent. The flowers have a tubular corolla with five petals most often fused at the tips, forming a cage-like structure.
Many Ceropegia species have been taken as ornamental houseplants, and some of these are commercially available. They can be propagated by seed and cuttings.
- Selected species
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Ceropegia ampliata
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Ceropegia stapeliiformis
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External sources
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