Tridentea

Tridentea is a genus of succulent plant in the family Apocynaceae, endemic to southern Africa.[1][2][3]

Tridentea
Tridentea gemmiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Genus: Tridentea
Haw.

Name and history
Stem specimen showing leaf remnants and flower stem

Tridentea was first described as a genus in 1812, and its name refers to the three "teeth" on each interstaminal segment of its flower ("tri-" = three; "dentis" = teeth). It was subsequently split, and the genus Tromotriche was created for the ten species which were separated.

Description
Vegetative features

Tridentea stems are typically smooth, soft and appear as roughly four-edged in cross section. The four angles are marked by rows of low tubercle mounds. In young growth, each tubercle bears a small splayed leaf-remnant. These fall off with time though. Each leaf remnant is always surrounded by several minute, fat hairs.

Floral features

Tridentea flowers are flattened, star-shaped, and usually brightly coloured. The most common colouring is a mixed mottling of greenish-yellow with purple. Their inside is usually densely papillate. Flowers appear on minute inflorescences, and each stem bears only one inflorescence, from the stem base.

Species[4]
  1. Tridentea aperta (Masson) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  2. Tridentea choanantha (Lavranos & Harry Hall) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  3. Tridentea dwequensis (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  4. Tridentea gemmiflora (Masson) Haw. - southern Africa
  5. Tridentea herrei (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  6. Tridentea jucunda (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  7. Tridentea longii (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  8. Tridentea longipes (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  9. Tridentea marientalensis (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  10. Tridentea pachyrrhiza (Dinter) L.C.Leach - southern Africa
  11. Tridentea parvipuncta (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  12. Tridentea peculiaris (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  13. Tridentea pedunculata (Masson) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  14. Tridentea ruschiana (Dinter) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  15. Tridentea umdausensis (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
  16. Tridentea virescens (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach
formerly included

Tridentea baylissii, syn of Tromotriche baylissii

References
  1. Tropicos
  2. Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
  3. Leach, Leslie Charles. 1978. Transactions of the Rhodesia Scientific Association 59(1): 3-5
  4. The Plant List, Tridentea


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