Entry From
FZ, Vol 7, Part 1, page 3, (1983) Author: R. Fernandes
Names
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora Harv. [family CRASSULACEAE], in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 2: 380 (1862). Hook. f. in Curtis, Bot. Mag. 125: t. 7678(1899). — M. Wood & Evans, Natal Pl. 1: 43, t. 52 (1899). — R.-Hamet in Bull. Herb. Boiss., Sér. 2, 7: 894(1907); in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 57: 19 (1910). — M. Wood, Handb. Fl. Natal: 46 (1907). — Burtt Davy, F.P.F.T. 1: 143 (1926). — Pole Evans, Fl. Pl. S. Afr.9: 341 (1929). — Berger in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 18a:407,fig. 196H-L(1930). — Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. : 286 (1946). — R.-Hamet & Marnier-Lapostolle in Arch. Mus. Nation. Hist. Nat. Paris, Sér. 7, 8: 92, t. 34 fig. 115-116(1964). — Jacobs., Das Sukk. Lexikon: 256, t. 106 fig. 2 (1970). — Guillarmod, Fl. Lesotho: 180(1971). — J. H. Ross. Fl. Natal: 179(1972). Syntypes from S. Afr.(Cape Prov.).
Kalanchoe alternans [family CRASSULACEAE], sensu Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. Pl Afr.Austr. 3: 305 (1837) nonPers. (1805).
Information
A completely glabrous biennal 0·75-1·30 m. high, succulent ± pulverulent with white, sticky powder. Stem single, arising from the rosette of leaves of the previous year, simple, erect, stout, terete, up to 2·5 cm. in diameter at the base and ±1·25 cm. in diameter below the inflorescence, smooth, leafless below at flowering time and marked there with the very close scars of fallen leaves. Leaves decussate, denser towards the base of the stem, obtuse or rounded at the top, entire, sometimes with pinkish margin, sessile, connate at the base and semi-amplexicaul, slightly decurrent, thick, fleshy, concave on the upper face, somewhat convex on the under one, the lower 7-17·5 x 7-12·5 cm., obovate or obovate-spathulate, the median and the upper ones successively smaller, oblong or spathulate. Flowers erect in ± dense axillary erect cymes forming a terminal thyrsoid panicle up to 30 cm. long and ± 8 cm. in diameter; pedicels 6·6-12 mm; long, somewhat thick. Calyx-tube 1-1·5 mm. high; sepals 3-5·5(7) x 2-2·7 mm., ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acute or nearly obtuse. Corolla-tube 11·5-15 mm. long and 6-7 mm. in diameter, suburceolate or ovoid-oblong, slightly contracted at the top, terete towards the base, distinctly 4-angular upwards, yellow or glaucous, pale and scarious-papyraceous on drying; corolla-lobes 3·25-5 x 3-4·5 mm., ovate to suborbicular, obtuse or rounded at the top, obsoletely apiculate, golden-yellow on the inner face, reflexed. Filaments of the upper (oppositipetalous) stamens 1·5-2 mm. long, inserted 1 mm. below the base of corolla-lobes, those of the lower ones (alternipetalous) c. 1 mm. long, inserted c. 1·5 below the sinuses between the corolla-lobes; anthers 1·3-1·4 mm. long, broadly ovate to subcircular, emarginate at the base, apiculate, those of the upper stamens completely exserted, the others included or their apices slightly above the sinuses of the corolla-lobes. Follicles (12·5)13·5-15 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate; styles (1-5)2-5-3 mm., partially exserted. Scales (1·75)2-3 x (1)1·25-2 mm., rectangular, emarginate. Seeds ± 0-3 mm., rounded at the top, longitudinally ribbed.
Habitat
In rocky ground with Combretum apiculatum, Euclea undulata, tree-Aloes, etc.
Distribution
Botswana SE At Gaborone-Lobatse Road, c. 35 km. from Lobatse, 1200 m., 17.viii.1977, O.J. Hansen 3159 (C; GAB; K; PRE).
Notes
Similar to K. luciae and K. wildii. Differences with the former are given on p. 58. Relatively to K. wildii, K. thyrsiflora differs mainly by the larger flowers (corolla-tube 11·5-15 mm. long and 6-7 mm. in diameter while in K. wildii the corolla-tube is 7-11 mm. long and 4-4·5 mm. in diameter); by the relatively narrower sepals and broader, refiexed corolla-lobes (in K. wildii these are erect and connivent after anthesis); by the larger anthers (1·3-1·4 mm. long instead of c. 1 mm.) but relatively narrower, not so deeply emarginate at the base and distinctly apiculate (in K. wildii they are not apiculate or are obsoletely so); by the larger follicles ((12·5)13·5-15 mm. long instead of ± 7·5 mm. long); by the longer styles ((1·5)2·5-3 mm. long while in K. wildii they are only c. 0·5 mm. long or almost absent); and by the different scales (rectangular, longer than broad and emarginate; in K. wildii they are transversely subrectangular, broader than high and entire). The Botswana specimen has both longer sepals and shorter styles than some examined specimens from other regions.
![Kalanchoe thyrsiflora Harv. [family CRASSULACEAE]](/fsi/img/misc/plants/static_thumbs/flora_zambesiaca_icon96.jpg)