Malephora
Encyclopedia
Malephora is a genus of succulent plant
s in the ice plant family
. There are 13 to 17 species in the genus, many of which are known commonly as mesembs. They are native to Africa.
These are perennial herbs or shrub
s lined with fleshy, smooth, sometimes waxy leaves no more than 6 centimeters long. They are triangular or rounded in cross-section and are arranged oppositely about the stem. The tubular flowers arise from leaf axils or at the ends of stem branches. The flowers may be several centimeters wide. They have up to 65 narrow petals in bright shades of yellow, orange, pink, or purple. The center of the flower has whorls of up to 150 stamen
s. The fruit is a capsule that opens when it becomes wet, releasing the many seeds.
Some species are used as ornamental plant
s, particularly Malephora crocea
.
Species include:
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
s in the ice plant family
Aizoaceae
The Family Aizoaceae or Ficoidaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1900 species. They are commonly known as stone plants or carpet weeds. Species that resemble stones or pebbles are sometimes called mesembs...
. There are 13 to 17 species in the genus, many of which are known commonly as mesembs. They are native to Africa.
These are perennial herbs or shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s lined with fleshy, smooth, sometimes waxy leaves no more than 6 centimeters long. They are triangular or rounded in cross-section and are arranged oppositely about the stem. The tubular flowers arise from leaf axils or at the ends of stem branches. The flowers may be several centimeters wide. They have up to 65 narrow petals in bright shades of yellow, orange, pink, or purple. The center of the flower has whorls of up to 150 stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s. The fruit is a capsule that opens when it becomes wet, releasing the many seeds.
Some species are used as ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s, particularly Malephora crocea
Malephora crocea
Malephora crocea is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant family known by the common name coppery mesemb. It is native to Africa and it is grown in many other places as an ornamental plant and a groundcover. In California and Baja California this is an introduced species and often a noxious...
.
Species include:
- Malephora croceaMalephora croceaMalephora crocea is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant family known by the common name coppery mesemb. It is native to Africa and it is grown in many other places as an ornamental plant and a groundcover. In California and Baja California this is an introduced species and often a noxious...
- Malephora framesii
- Malephora herrei
- Malephora luteola
- Malephora pienaarii
- Malephora purpureo-crocea
- Malephora smithii