![]() ![]() (Photo A Graham Grieve) B, Flowering stems with leaves amongst humic-rich soils and leaf litter on the forest floor. A, aerial tubers pressed against the soil surface eventually root (note the connection of the stem between these tubers here depicted). Typically, many species of Ceropegia grow and climb naturally among bushes which provide shade and humidity to the base, whereas the vegetative growth is in the light.įigure 9. The natural habitat is in frost-free areas with relative high rainfall (600–1 000 mm per annum), with average maximum temperature of about 26✬ and average minimum temperature of 16✬. Plants are usually found in shaded places. The soils are usually rich in humus, loam or sandy soils that may be rocky or gravelly. It may also be found in open or closed woodland, outcrops and ledges in forests and rarely in grassland. The tubers are usually embedded in cracks with a thin layer of soil on these cliff edges. Plants are found growing naturally mostly on rocky ledges within forests from 100–1 180 m above sea level. woodii in habitat in rocky patches with shallow soils in ledges within indigenous forests. Various plants of Ceropegia linearis subsp. This species is also native to Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.įigure 8. ![]() Bester)įound in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. ![]() C, close-up of gynostegium showing the pollinaria that are attached by a clip which usually catch the proboscis or feet or antenna of a pollinator by which means it is removed from this particular flower and deposited on another flower in subsequent visits. B, close-up of the gynostegium showing the inner and outer corona lobes that secrete nectar to keep possible pollinators alive while temporarily caught in the ‘trap’-flower. A, showing the position of the gynostegium and again the downward-directed hairs. The basal inflation of the corolla in Ceropegia linearis subsp. They usually flower in summer to autumn (mainly December–April).įigure 6. In cultivation, flowers may appear sporadically throughout the year, but wild plants have not been recorded in flower for June and September. C, dissected part of the tube showing the maroon longitudinal striping and downwards-directed hairs that guide a pollinator to the basal inflation. B, a full flower showing the basal inflation that houses the gynostegium, the tube and the lobes. A, apical portion showing the lobes with hairs on their margins and the tips fused to form a cage-like structure with open sinuses (or windows) that are entry points to the tube. Floral parts of Ceropegia linearis subsp. Fruit narrow spindle-shaped follicles, 50–70 × 3 mm.įigure 5. In the swollen base of the tube, the gynostegium (fused anthers and pistils) with corona lobes, are found where the pollinia is situated that is transferred via the pollinator to another flower, to facilitate pollination. Pendulant stems with leaves and flowers, in habitat. The lobes are spoon-shaped, 6–8 × 3.0–4.5 mm, fused at the tips to form cage-like structures, forming a white canopy the margins contain purplish hairs inside.įigure 4. Flowers have an 18–25 mm long tube (straight or sometimes slightly curved) with dark, longitudinal stripes, with an inflated globose base ± 4 mm in diameter. At various lengths along the stem, aerial tuberous growths are produced. The inflorescences (cymes) are 1–4-flowered and are produced in succession the pedicels 3–10 mm long. A, ovate blade with cordate base B, heart-shaped leaves C, leaves are succulent and opposite at the nodes D, leaves getting dappled light develop marbled surfaces. The leaves are dark green marbled with silvery white on the upper surface and purple on the underside.įigure 3. Leaves opposite, fleshy, ovate-lanceolate or heart-shaped (orbicular with a cordate base), 6–18 mm in diameter, sometimes whitish to silver along the veins, with short petioles and internodes ± 30–80 mm long. ![]() Bester)įrom the tuber grows thin, pinkish stems 0.25–1.0(–3) m long. Stems with warty potato-like aerial tubers developing at the nodes. Tuber with a hard, grey and woody base, usually wrinkled that grows up to 25–50 mm in diameter.įigure 2. woodii is a perennial, evergreen, succulent climber or prostrate trailer, with slender, prostrate stems arising from tubers. ![]()
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