Cheiridopsis subgenus Odontophoroides H.E.K.Hartmann

Powell, Robyn F., Boatwright, James S., Klak, Cornelia & Magee, Anthony R., 2017, Inclusion of Ihlenfeldtia and Odontophorus in Cheiridopsis (Ruschioideae: Aizoaceae) and insights into generic and subgeneric circumscription in the Conophytum clade, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 184 (4), pp. 457-484 : 477-478

3.2. Cheiridopsis subgenus Odontophoroides H.E.K.Hartmann , Biblioth. Bot. 136: 59. 1983.

Type: C. acuminata L.Bolus.

Compact perennial shrubs, sometimes mat-forming. Leaves isophyllous, with subsequent pairs equal along stem; surface often rough with elevations above the subhypodermal idioblasts or velvety; epidermal cells forming blunt papillae or trichomes; sheath always only partially enclosing the emerging leaf pair during dormancy. Flowers cream, yellow, magenta or magentasuffused. Capsules on erect pedicels; top rounded, base semi-globose; valve wings broad, as wide as valve, to narrow, 1 / 3 width of valve, sometimes ending in an awn; covering membranes undulate; closing bodies large, blocking at least ¾ of locule. Seeds sparsely to densely papillate.

Diagnostic characters and distribution: Cheiridopsis subgenus Odontophoroides is the largest subgenus with 16 species and is characterized by the isophyllous leaves (equal subsequent pairs) and the erect capsules with rounded tops ( Figs 5 , 7G ). The leaves also often have a rough surface ( Fig. 8F ), but this is not found in all species in the subgenus.

Although this subgenus has the largest number of species, it has the most restricted distribution from the northern border of South Africa at Sendelingsdrif, in the Richtersveld, to Wallekraal, with hotspots in the Springbok-Steinkopf Region and the Richtersveld ( Fig. 6C ).

Recognized species: Cheiridopsis acuminata L.Bolus , C. alba-oculata Klak & Helme, C. angustifolia (L.Bolus) R.F.Powell , C. aspera L.Bolus , C. glomerata S.A.Hammer, C. marlothii (N.E.Br.) R.F.Powell, C. nana (L.Bolus) R.F.Powell , C. pillansii L.Bolus , C. pilosula L.Bolus , C. ponderosa S.A.Hammer , C. purpurea L.Bolus, C. pusilla (S.A.Hammer) R.F.Powell , C. rudis L.Bolus , C. speciosa L.Bolus , C. umdausensis L.Bolus , C. velox S.A.Hammer.

Figures

Figure 5. Character reconstruction of pedicel position and shape of capsule top in the Conophytum clade on the majorityrule consensus tree from the Bayesian inference analysis. (A) pedicel position (Character 5; Appendices 4 and 5), reconstructed in two steps coded as erect or decumbent (Fig. 7E–G); (B) the shape of the capsule top (Character 6; Appendices 4 and 5), reconstructed in one step, coded as convex to rounded (Fig. 7E, G) or flat (to centrally elevated) (Fig. 7G).

Figure 6. Number of species per quarter degree square (QDS) (Leistner & Morris, 1976) and distribution of Cheiridopsis s.l. and subgenera (as treated in the taxonomic treatment) in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. (A) Distribution and number of species per QDS for Cheiridopsis s.l.; (B) distribution and number of species per QDS in subgenus Cheiridopsis; (C) distribution and number of species per QDS in subgenus Odontophoroides (including species of previously recognized Odontophorus); (D) distribution and number of species per QDS in subgenus Aequifoliae (including species of previously recognized Ihlenfeldtia).

Figure 7. Capsules in Conophytum and Cheiridopsis. (A) Closed simple capsule of Conophytum wettsteinii; (B) open simple capsule of C.wettsteiniishowingthe absenceof covering membranesandclosing bodies;(C)closed multilocular capsuleof Cheiridopsis denticulata; (D) open capsule of C. denticulata showing the complex internal structures, i.e. covering membranes (cm) and closing bodies (cb), indicated by the white arrows; (E) decumbent capsules of Cheiridopsis subgenus Cheiridopsis, in Cheiridopsis namaquensis; (F) erect capsule of C. denticulata with flat to centrally elevated tops as in Cheiridopsis subgenus Aequifoliae; (G) Cheiridopsis pilosula illustrating the erect capsule with rounded tops, typical of Cheiridopsis subgenus Odontophoroides.

Figure 8. Leaf and floral characters of Cheiridopsis and Conophytum. (A) New leaves of Conophytum wettsteinii breaking out of their papery sheath, with a magenta flower; (B) partial sheath enclosing the emerging leaf pair, with a magenta flower, in Cheiridopsis glomerata; (C) leaves of Cheiridopsis meyeri completely enclosed by a white papery sheath during the dormant period, indicated by the arrow; (D) leaves of Conophytum uviforme completely enclosed in a sheath during the dormant period, indicated by the arrow; (E) Cheiridopsis purpurea with the partial sheath, common to many Cheiridopsis spp. which only encloses part of the leaves during the dormant period; (F) Cheiridopsis aspera with the prominent rough leaf surface often found in subgenus Odontophoroides.