Malephora

Shrubs or subshrubs, perennial, succulent. Roots fibrous. Stems erect to prostrate, rooting at older nodes. Leaves cauline, opposite, sessile; stipules absent; blade slightly connate basally, triangular to cylindric, smooth, usually glaucous. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, flowers solitary or in cymes, pedicellate; bracts absent. Flowers showy, tubular, to 5 cm diam.; calyx lobes 4–6, tapered, unequal; petals (including petaloid staminodia) 40–65, distinct, yellow, pink, orange, or reddish to purple; stamens 150, erect, bases often hairy; nectary often present; pistil 8–12-carpellate; ovary mostly inferior, flat apically, 8–12-loculed, each locule with basal pocket containing 1–2 or no seeds; placentation parietal; style absent; stigmas 8–12, plumose. Fruits capsules, persistent, dehiscence loculicidal, not separating into segments; locule lids present, winged. Seeds 75, lenticular, rough; tubercles in rows.

Distribution

Africa.

Discussion

Species 13 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Malephora crocea