= Larryleachia meloformis (Marloth) Plowes
Excelsa 17: 7 (1996)
Accepted Scientific Name: Larryleachia picta (N.E.Br.) Plowes
Excelsa 17: 9 (1996)
Origin and Habitat: Southern Africa, from central Botswana into south-western Namibia.
Habitat: It can be found on the eastern edge of the winter rainfall region at an altitude of 800 - 1600 m. They are highly succulent and adapt to very harsh and bright habitats. Larryleachia is a very fine example of convergent evolution, very easy to mistake for a cactus. However there is very similar development of very similar characteristics in plants evolving in similar conditions, although separated by very great distances or otherwise of impossible contact. Indeed, one species in the genus is called Larryleachia cactiforme.
Ecology: This plant has a highly specialized pollination biology, that depends upon flies which are deceived, partially trapped and used as collectors of the pollinia which they transport to a cyathium (Flower) on another plant.
More...Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Larryleachia picta
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:Larryleachia picta (N.E.Br.) PlowesExcelsa 17: 9 (1996)Synonymy: 13
back
Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Apple Milkweed
Description: It is a small perennial stem succulent , mostly solitary (or slowly clumping).
Stem: Green or light green or blue-green 5-30 cm high, 20-60 mm wide, unbranched or sparsely branched, short-cylindric, and tessellate, with roughly pentangular, flat or depressed tubercles closely set together; latex colorless.
Leaves: Persistent, reduced to scales, in spirals or verticillate, sessile (and sunken), strongly adscending, 0.05-0.1 cm long.
Roots: Fibrouse
Flowers: Appear (usually) close to apex of stems in extra-axillary inflorescences 1 to 3 together on a tubercle apex, each about 6 to 10mm, in diameter, simple, sessile, fleshy, abaxially cream, green or yellow, uniformly colored or maculate with reddish or maroon, adaxially white, cream, green or yellow, maculate, glabrous.
Blooming season: Flowers open synchronously in summer.
Fruits: Mericarps, usually paired, acute-angled.
Remarks: It is closely related to Larryleachia cactiformisSN|18662]]SN|18662]]
More...
