Anacampseros subnuda, habitus, b, Skeerpoort

''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to

Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

and

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...

. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore lost love. The Australian species '' Grahamia australiana'' was at one time included in the genus ''Anacampseros'', but the entire genus now is regarded as

n, and no longer includes any Australian representatives.

Description

Plants in the genus ''Anacampseros'' are perennial. In

habit A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.

they are small undershrubs or sprawling herbs that may form dense mats. Mature plants of many of the species form a small

caudex A caudex (plural: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695 In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is m ...

or a tuberous root-stock. The leaves of most species are succulent and may be either

lanceolate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

in shape or rounded.Dyer, R. Allen, The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants”. , 1975 The arrangement of leaves on a stem is

alternate Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film * ''The Alternative ...

. The leaves in most species are closely spaced, and in some species they are small and more or less hidden by papery or

filamentous The word filament, which is descended from Latin ''filum'' meaning " thread", is used in English for a variety of thread-like structures, including: Astronomy * Galaxy filament, the largest known cosmic structures in the universe * Solar filament ...

fascicle Fascicle or ''fasciculus'' may refer to: Anatomy and histology * Muscle fascicle, a bundle of skeletal muscle fibers * Nerve fascicle, a bundle of axons (nerve fibers) ** Superior longitudinal fasciculus *** Arcuate fasciculus ** Gracile fas ...

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

s. Some species have

sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...

flowers, often in an

involucre In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

. Other species bear their flowers on

racemose A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

peduncles. In contrast to the alternately born leaves, the bracts are opposite and

scarious This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

. The flowers are

actinomorphic Floral symmetry describes whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts. Uncommonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry at all, typically because their parts are spirall ...

with two

caducous Dehiscence is the splitting of a mature plant structure along a built-in line of weakness to release its contents. This is common among fruits, anthers and sporangia. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part; structures that op ...

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s and five fugacious

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s. The petals may be white, pink, or even pale purple. The plants flower from time to time in summer, and open on sunny days only. The numerous stamens are attached to the bases of the petals. The

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

is split into three. The

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

superior Superior may refer to: *Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind Places *Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state *Lake ...

, and ripens into a three-valved

unilocular A locule (plural locules) or loculus (plural loculi) (meaning "little place" in Latin) is a small cavity or compartment within an organ or part of an organism (animal, plant, or fungus). In angiosperms (flowering plants), the term ''locule'' usu ...

capsule that contains many seeds on a free-standing central placenta. In some species the three valves are misleadingly split into six valves. The seeds are compressed and may be angled or have three wings.

Taxonomy

''Anacampseros'' is now a genus in the family

Anacampserotaceae The Anacampserotaceae are a family of plants proposed in the February 2010 issue of the journal ''Taxon''. The family was described by Urs Eggli and Reto Nyffeler in their analysis of the polyphyly in the suborder Portulacineae (order Caryophyll ...

, whereas until about 2010 it had been considered a member of

Portulacaceae The Portulacaceae are a family of flowering plants, comprising 115 species in a single genus ''Portulaca''. Formerly some 20 genera with about 500 species, were placed there, but it is now restricted to encompass only one genus, the other genera ...

.The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed January 2016) ''Anacampseros'' Mill. is a synonym of the genus ''

Sedum ''Sedum'' is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species, subsequently reduced to 400–500. They are leaf succulen ...

'', which is in a different plant family,

Crassulaceae The Crassulaceae (from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the stonecrop family or the orpine family, are a diverse family of dicotyledon flowering plants characterized by succulent leaves and a unique form of photosynthesis, known as Crass ...

Species

The following species were listed as accepted in the Kew Gardens Plant list at the start of 2016. *''

Anacampseros affinis ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' H.Pearson & Stephens *''

Anacampseros albidiflora ''Anacampseros albidiflora'' is a species of succulent plant native to the Great Karoo and Little Karoo regions of South Africa.Dyer, R. Allen, ''The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants''. , 1975 Description The small (4 cm high), ...

'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros albissima'' Marloth *''

Anacampseros alstonii ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' Schönland *''

Anacampseros alta ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' Poelln. *''

Anacampseros arachnoides ''Anacampseros arachnoides'' is a species of succulent plant native to the Little Karoo region of South Africa.Dyer, R. Allen, ''The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants''. , 1975 Description This species grows slender erect stems (5&nb ...

'' (Haw.) Sims *''

Anacampseros bayeriana ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' S.A.Hammer *''

Anacampseros coahuilensis ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' (S.Watson) Eggli & Nyffeler *'' Anacampseros comptonii'' Pillans *'' Anacampseros crinita'' Dinter *'' Anacampseros decipiens'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros densifolia'' Dinter ex Poelln. *'' Anacampseros depauperata'' (A.Berger) Poelln. *'' Anacampseros dielsiana'' Dinter *'' Anacampseros dinteri'' Schinz *''

Anacampseros filamentosa ''Anacampseros filamentosa'' is a species of succulent plant native to the Karoo region of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by o ...

'' (Haw.) Sims *'' Anacampseros fissa'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros gracilis'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros herreana'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros hillii'' G.Will. *'' Anacampseros karasmontana'' Dinter *'' Anacampseros kurtzii'' Bacig. *'' Anacampseros lanceolata'' (Haw.) Sweet *'' Anacampseros lanigera'' Burch. *'' Anacampseros mallei'' (G.Will.) G.Will. *'' Anacampseros marlothii'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros meyeri'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros namaquensis'' H.Pearson & Stephens *'' Anacampseros nebrownii'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros nitida'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros papyracea'' E.Mey. ex Fenzl *'' Anacampseros papyracea'' subsp. namaensis Gerbaulet *'' Anacampseros paradoxa'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros parviflora'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros pisina'' G.Will. *'' Anacampseros prominens'' G.Will. *'' Anacampseros quinaria'' E.Mey. ex Fenzl *'' Anacampseros recurvata'' Schönland *'' Anacampseros recurvata'' subsp. buderiana (Poelln.) Gerbaulet *'' Anacampseros recurvata'' subsp. minuta Gerbaulet *''

Anacampseros retusa ''Anacampseros retusa'' is a species of succulent plant native to the Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa, as well as to Namibia.Dyer, R. Allen, ''The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants''. , 1975 Description ''An. ...

'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros rhodesica'' N.E.Br. *'' Anacampseros rubroviridis'' Poelln. *''

Anacampseros rufescens ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' (Haw.) Sweet *'' Anacampseros ruschii'' Dinter & Poelln. *'' Anacampseros schoenlandii'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros scopata'' G.Will. *'' Anacampseros starkiana'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros subnuda'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros subnuda'' subsp. lubbersii (Bleck) Gerbaulet *''

Anacampseros telephiastrum ''Anacampseros telephiastrum'' is a species of succulent plant native to the southern Karoo region of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, from Robertson in the west, to Somerset East in the east.Dyer, R. Allen, ''The Gene ...

'' DC. *'' Anacampseros tomentosa'' A.Berger *'' Anacampseros truncata'' Poelln. *''

Anacampseros ustulata ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' E.Mey. ex Fenzl *''

Anacampseros vanthielii ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' G.Will. *'' Anacampseros variabilis'' Poelln. *'' Anacampseros vespertina'' Thulin *'' Anacampseros vulcanensis'' Añon *''

Anacampseros wischkonii ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'' Dinter & Poelln. File:Anacampseros albidiflora - Witteberge - Copy.jpg, ''

'' File:Anacampseros arachnoidea - Zoo Plzeň, 2.jpg, ''

'' (

Little Karoo The Karoo ( ; from the Afrikaans borrowing of the South Khoekhoe !Orakobab or Khoemana word ''ǃ’Aukarob'' "Hardveld") is a semi-desert natural region of South Africa. No exact definition of what constitutes the Karoo is available, so its ext ...

) has pink-to-white flowers and compact, ovoid, hairy leaves, each with a minute acuminate spine. File:1 Anacampseros retusa - Ashton 4 - Copy.jpg, ''

'' File:Anacampseros telephiastrum - Bonnievale 3.jpg, '' Anacampseros lanceolata'' (

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

) has smooth, hairless, acute-tipped leaves, and a branched inflorescence with broadly ovate petals, 30-45 stamens per flower and angular seeds. 1 Anacampseros filamentosa - Ladismith 2 - Copy.jpg, ''

'' (

Northern Cape The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi T ...

and

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

) has hairy, rounded-truncate leaves and slender elliptic-lanceolate petals on its uniformly pink flowers. File:Anacampseros rufescens kz01.jpg, ''

'' (

Eastern Cape Province The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in 1994 ...

) a pink-flowered species. Leaf undersides are usually reddish and it has numerous axillary hairs. File:Anacampseros subnuda, habitus, a, Skeerpoort.jpg, '' Anacampseros subnuda'' has obtuse-tipped leaves, that lose their velt-hair, becoming smooth with age.

Uses and significance

Folk uses and views on the genus are incoherent and regional. Some species are regarded as narcotic or outright poisonous, but tests on sheep gave no positive result and some of the notionally toxic species are used in adulterating beer. Several species have been used in making various forms of beer, but it is not clear what the intended effect might be, although some species appears to have some activity in hydrolysing some carbohydrates. Some species are used as charms and non-specific "medicines".Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962

References

Botanica Sistematica

{{Taxonbar, from=Q310563 Caryophyllales genera Anacampserotaceae