Acrosanthes


Acrosanthes is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae. It is native to the Namibia and South Africa's Cape Provinces in Southern Africa.

Description

Plants in this genus are generally prostrate to sprawling branching perennials with opposite succulent leaves. Inflorescences are a cyme, and flowers have 5 calyx lobes, 8 to many stamen, and an inferior ovary. Fruits are 2 loculed capsules with basal placentation, and the fruit is xerochastic. Their seeds are likely dispersed by ants.

Taxonomy

This genus was first described by Ecklon and Zeyher in 1837.

Species

There are 7 recognized species as of 2022:
  1. Acrosanthes anceps
  2. Acrosanthes angustifolia
  3. Acrosanthes decandra
  4. Acrosanthes humifusa
  5. Acrosanthes microphylla
  6. Acrosanthes parviflora
  7. ''Acrosanthes teretifolia''