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Ceropegia saldanhae

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Photo by NK. Efloraofindia.


 Photo by NK, Efloraofindia.

Author: Peter Vincent Bruyns, 2017
Family:  ASCLEPIADACEAE*
Origin:   Salem, India
Soil:  Mix - Grit
Water:  Medium - Maximum
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  2-4 Centimetres
Height:  5-10 (20) Centimetres
Flower:   Yellow / Purple-Brown
PropagateSeeds
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Brachystelma saldanhae, Bruyns & Britto, 2016.

This member of the Asclepiadaceae* family was given this name by Peter Vincent Bruyns in 2017. It is found near Salem in southern India, growing in grit or another well drained soil with quite some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow from two to four centimetres in diameter, the entire plant from five to ten or even 20 centimetres in height. The flowers are yellow and purple to brown.

The genera name is from the Greek word keropegion meaning 'candelabrum', because Linnaeus thought that the flowers looked like candles. The species name after Cecil J. Saldanha, 1926-2002, founder and director of the Centre for Taxonomic Studies in Banglalore.

*)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Asclepiadaceae is now part of the Apocynaceae.