Perennials with prostrate annual stems and tuberous rootstock; stems weakly lignified, articulate, green and succulent, smooth
Leaves decussate, free towards bases, semicylindrical, ephemeral, smooth
Flowers solitary or in few-flowered dichasia, several per axis, single on shorter side branches, 20-30 mm diameter
Sepals 5
Petals white, decreasing in length towards center of flower
Staminodes 0
Nectary consisting of 5 separate grooves
Ovary: placentas axile
Fruit a 5-locular capsule of Mesembryanthemum type, base funnel-shaped, to 10 mm deep; expanding keels extending to centre of fruit; valve wings reflexed and fused in pairs
Seeds D-shaped, 1-1.3 mm long, surface rough, ochre
Flowering late winter to early spring
Distinguishing characters:
Tuberous rootstock
Stems creeping, annual
Stems and leaves smooth
Fruit funnel-shaped in lower part
Nomenclature:
Caulipsolon Klak
Klak & Linder: 301 (1998)
Smith et al.: 36 (1998)
Distribution & Notes:
Southern Africa: Species 1: Caulipsolon rapaceum (Jacq.) Klak is found in Namaqualand (Northern Cape)
References:
KLAK, C. & LINDER, H.P. 1998. Systematics of Psilocaulon N.E.Br. and Caulipsolon Klak gen. nov. (Mesembryanthemoideae, Aizoaceae). Botanische Jahrbücher 120
SMITH, G.F., CHESSELET, P., VAN JAARSVELD, E.J., HARTMANN, H., HAMMER, S., VAN WYK, B-.E., BURGOYNE, P., KLAK, C. & KURZWEIL, H. 1998. Mesembs of the world. Briza, Pretoria
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