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.