Lampranthus

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Lampranthus is a genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa.

Description

The genus name "Lampranthus" means "shining-flowers" in Greek, and the species of this genus have unusually large, bright flowers, of a range of colours (sometimes even bi-coloured), that usually appear in summer, and frequently cover the plants entirely.

The species of this genus typically have long, smooth, elongated, succulent leaves. These can be triangular or cylindrical, and like all plants in its family, appear in opposite pairs on the shrubs' branches.[1]

Lampranthus can be clearly distinguished from related genera by its seed capsules. The seed capsules of all of these genera have triangular valves, which open when they become wet, exposing the seed chambers (locules). In contrast to Ruschia, each valve in a Lampranthus capsule has two wings, on either side of it, but no visible closing body. Unlike in Delosperma, the seeds in Lampranthus seed chambers are partially covered by a covering membrane. Lampranthus seeds sometimes have visible stalks too.

Reproduction

File:Starr 061204-1844 Lampranthus roseus.jpg
Lampranthus multiradiatus
File:Lampranthus sp6 (3).JPG
Lampranthus flowers often cover the entire plant.
File:Starr 070308-5519 Lampranthus sp..jpg
Typical flower and leaf shape of genus
File:Starr 980602-4412 Lampranthus roseus.jpg
A field of Lampranthus multiradiatus (the "mini ice plant")
File:Lampranthus sp5 (2).JPG
File:Starr 080117-2149 Lampranthus sp..jpg

All Lampranthus species flower between June and August (in the Northern Hemisphere) with flower colours including red, orange, peach, yellow and light pink through to magenta and purple. They are pollinated by many insects, such as bees, wasps and beetles.

Species

since January 2024Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[2]

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Distribution

These plants are mainly found in Southern Africa, especially in arid areas, such as the Fynbos habitats.

Phytochemistry

L. aureus and L. spectabilis contain mesembrenol and low levels of related alkaloids such as mesembrenone[3] and have sometimes been mismarketed as kanna (Mesembryanthemum tortuosum) extract which contains higher levels of related alkaloids.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Gallery

References

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  1. ↑ J. Manning: Field Guide to Fynbos. Struik, 2007. p.330.
  2. ↑ Template:Cite POWO
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