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Lampranthus

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Lampranthus
Lampranthus glaucoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Lampranthus
N.E.Br.[1]
Type species
Lampranthus multiradiatus
(Jacq.) N.E.Br.[1]
Species

See text

Lampranthus is a genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa.

Description

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The genus name "Lampranthus" means "shining-flowers" in Greek, and the species of this genus have unusually large, bright flowers, of a range of colours (sometimes even bi-coloured), that usually appear in summer, and frequently cover the plants entirely.

The species of this genus typically have long, smooth, elongated, succulent leaves. These can be triangular or cylindrical, and like all plants in its family, appear in opposite pairs on the shrubs' branches.[2]

Lampranthus can be clearly distinguished from related genera by its seed capsules. The seed capsules of all of these genera have triangular valves, which open when they become wet, exposing the seed chambers (locules). In contrast to Ruschia, each valve in a Lampranthus capsule has two wings, on either side of it, but no visible closing body. Unlike in Delosperma, the seeds in Lampranthus seed chambers are partially covered by a covering membrane. Lampranthus seeds sometimes have visible stalks too.

Reproduction

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Lampranthus multiradiatus
Lampranthus flowers often cover the entire plant.
Typical flower and leaf shape of genus
A field of Lampranthus multiradiatus (the "mini ice plant")

All Lampranthus species flower between June and August (in the Northern Hemisphere) with flower colours including red, orange, peach, yellow and light pink through to magenta and purple. They are pollinated by many insects, such as bees, wasps and beetles.

Species

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As of January 2024, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[3]

Distribution

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These plants are mainly found in Southern Africa, especially in arid areas, such as the Fynbos habitats.

Phytochemistry

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L. aureus and L. spectabilis contain mesembrenol and low levels of related alkaloids such as mesembrenone[4] and have sometimes been mismarketed as kanna (Mesembryanthemum tortuosum) extract which contains higher levels of related alkaloids.[citation needed]

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  • Lampranthus glaucus
    Lampranthus glaucus
  • Typical cylindrical leaves of Lampranthus stipulaceus
    Typical cylindrical leaves of Lampranthus stipulaceus
  • The tiny species Lampranthus tenuifolius
    The tiny species Lampranthus tenuifolius
  • Lampranthus zeyheri
    Lampranthus zeyheri

References

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Wikispecies has information related to Lampranthus.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lampranthus.
  1. ^ a b Gard. Chron. ser. 3, 87: 71. 1930 [25 Jan 1930] "Plant Name Details for Genus Lampranthus". IPNI. Retrieved December 16, 2009. Type Name: L. multiradiatus (N. J. Jacquin) N. E. Brown (Mesembryanthemum multiradiatum N. J. Jacquin) Remarks: nom. cons.
  2. ^ J. Manning: Field Guide to Fynbos. Struik, 2007. p.330.
  3. ^ "Lampranthus N.E.Br." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  4. ^ Smith, Michael T.; Field, Courtney R.; Crouch, Neil R.; Hirst, Manton (1998). "The Distribution of Mesembrine Alkaloids in Selected Taxa of the Mesembryanthemaceae and their Modification in the Sceletium Derived 'Kougoed'". Pharmaceutical Biology. 36 (3): 173–179. doi:10.1076/phbi.36.3.173.6350.
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