| Piaranthus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Piaranthus geminatus in cultivation | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae |
| Tribe: | Ceropegieae |
| Genus: | Piaranthus R.Br. (1810) |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Piaranthus is a succulent plant genus in the subfamilyAsclepiadoideae, in the familyApocynaceae.
It was first described in 1810. Its name comes from Greek and is descriptive of the fleshy, succulent flowers typical of the genus ("piar-" = fat,"-anthos" = flower).[2][3][4]
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The plants typically form flat, spreading mats of multiple offsetting stems. The stems are small, compact and four-edged. Tubercles (leaf remnants) appear along the four sides.
The flowers are small, fleshy, and bear five independent petals in a star shape. They appear in clusters, each flower up-turned, on a tiny inflorescence that sprouts from the tip of the stem. Each stem usually only produces a maximum of one inflorescence. The flowers of different species are in a range of colours; most emit unpleasant odours, especially the darker red or brown coloured ones.
The compact, mat-forming stems are very similar to those of the related genusDuvalia, and the two are often confused when not in flower. However the stems ofPiaranthus have four sides (in cross-section), while those ofDuvalia often have more.
The genusPiaranthus is restricted to the western part ofSouthern Africa. It occurs in arid, sandy areas, in the shade of bushes.
species transferred to other genera(Caralluma,Hoodia,Huerniopsis,Quaqua)
Phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be monophyletic, and to be very closely related to the generaOrbea andStapelia. More distantly related are the generaHuernia andTavaresia.[5]
