Pseudolithos

Pseudolithos is a genus of succulent flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae, indigenous to Somalia, Yemen and Oman.

Pseudolithos
Pseudolithos migiurtinus plant in cultivation
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Genus: Pseudolithos
P.R.O.Bally

Description and naming

The plants were first described as a genus in 1965; the name "Pseudo-lithos" means "false-stone" and refers to their pebble-like appearance. All species in this genus are highly succulent, highly reduced, and exhibit tessellation on their stems' surface. Their small flowers appear on the spherical body's surface.[1][2]

Species[3]
  1. Pseudolithos caput-viperae Lavranos - Somalia
  2. Pseudolithos cubiformis (P.R.O. Bally) P.R.O. Bally - N Somalia
  3. Pseudolithos dodsonianus (Lavranos) Bruyns & Meve - Somalia & Oman
  4. Pseudolithos horwoodii P.R.O. Bally & Lavranos - Somalia
  5. Pseudolithos mccoyi Lavranos - Yemen & Oman
  6. Pseudolithos migiurtinus (Chiov.) P.R.O. Bally - S + C Somalia
  7. Pseudolithos sphaericus (P.R.O. Bally) P.R.O. Bally - N Somalia

Taxonomy

Phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be monophyletic, and most closely related to the widespread Caralluma stapeliads of North Africa. Marginally more distantly related is a sister branch comprising the genera Echidnopsis and Rhytidocaulon.[4]

References
  1. "Tropicos - Name - Pseudolithos P.R.O. Bally". tropicos.org.
  2. "Notes Pseudolithos - Quaqua". asclepiad-exhibition.org.
  3. "Search results — The Plant List". theplantlist.org.
  4. P. Bruyns, C. Klak, P. Hanacek: Evolution of the stapeliads (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) - repeated major radiation across Africa in an Old World group. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2014. v. 77, no. 1, p. 251--263. ISSN 1055-7903.


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