Description :

• Aerial, hemiparasitic shrubs reaching 1 m or more in height, glabrous; spreading by haustoria-bearing surface runners
• Leaves opposite-subopposite, mostly oblong to elliptical, highly coriaceous with age, shortly petiolate
• Inflorescence an axillary, solitary or fascicled, 2-6-flowered umbel
• Flowers 5-merous, bilaterally symmetrical, strongly curved (C- or bow-shaped), especially in older buds, base rather enlarged and bud apex strongly clavate
• Calyx reduced to a short rim rarely over 1 mm high
• Corolla choripetalous, but connivent and superficially appearing united at base, usually red or yellow; petals basally plicate on inner surface, lobes variously reflexing (often twisted) above point where filaments arise, remaining connivent below
• Style filiform, inserted in a depression on ovary; stigma capitate
• Berry ellipsoid, smooth or warty, red or yellow
• x = 9

Nomenclature:

• Plicosepalus Tiegh.
  • Van Tieghem: 504 (1894)
  • Danser: 100 (1933)
  • Balle: 169 (1968)
  • Balle: 7 (1969)
  • Wiens & Tölken: 34 (1979)
  • Polhill & Wiens: 87 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species ± 12, widespread throughout the more arid regions of Africa
• Southern Africa : Species 3, Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal