Cheiridopsis subgenus Aequifoliae 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 : 478

3.3. Cheiridopsis subgenus Aequifoliae H.E.K.Hartmann , Biblioth. Bot. 136: 59. 1983.

Type: C. denticulata (Haw.) N.E.Br.

Compact perennial shrubs. Leaves isophyllous, with subsequent pairs equal along stem; surface velvety, with no epidermal elevations formed above subhypodermal idioblasts; epidermal cells forming blunt papillae or trichomes, sheath always only partially enclosing the emerging leaf pair during dormancy. Flowers cream to yellow, rarely orange or red. Capsules on erect pedicels; top flat to centrally elevated, but never rounded, base funnel-shaped; valve wings reduced to awns; covering membranes undulate with low distal rims; closing bodies usually large, blocking at least ¾ of locule, seldom smaller, blocking at least ½ of locule. Seeds smooth.

Diagnostic characters and distribution: Cheiridopsis subgenus Aequifoliae is the smallest subgenus in Cheiridopsis , with eight species. The subgenus shares the isophyllous leaves (equal subsequent pairs) and erect pedicels with subgenus Odontophoroides but differs by the capsule tops that are flat or centrally elevated on the top ( Figs 5 , 7I ).

The subgenus has the most northern distribution extending from southern Namibia to Clanwilliam and eastwards to Pofadder, with two centres of diversity in the Springbok-Steinkopf Region and the Richtersveld ( Fig. 6D ).

Recognized species: Cheiridopsis brownii Schick & Tisch. , C. caroli-schmidtii (Dinter & A.Berger) N.E.Br. , C. denticulata (Haw.) N.E.Br. , C. excavata L.Bolus , C. herrei L.Bolus , C. robusta (Haw.) N.E.Br. , C. vanzylii L.Bolus , C. verrucosa L.Bolus.

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.