Tridentea

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Gentianales

Familia: Apocynaceae
Subfamilia: Asclepiadoideae
Tribus: Ceropegieae
Subtribus: Stapeliinae
Genus: Tridentea
Species: T. dwequensis – T. gemmiflora – T. jucunda – T. marientalensis – T. pachyrrhiza – T. parvipuncta – T. peculiaris – T. virescens
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Tridentea in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Feb 28. Reference page.

Name

Tridentea Haw., Syn. Pl. Succ.: 34 (1812).
References

Haworth, A.H. 1812. Synopsis plantarum succulentarum: cum descriptionibus, synonymis, locis, observationibus anglicanis, culturaque. 334 pp. London: R. Taylor. BHL Reference page. : 34

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. . 28 in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Feb. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Tridentea in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Feb 28. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Tridentea. Published online. Accessed: Feb 28 2021. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2021. Tridentea. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 28 Feb 2021. Reference page.

Hassler, M. 2021. Tridentea. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Feb 28. Reference page.

Vernacular names

Tridentea is a genus of succulent plant in the family Apocynaceae, endemic to southern Africa.[1][2][3]
Name and history
Stem specimen showing leaf remnants and flower stem

Tridentea was first described as a genus in 1812, and its name refers to the three "teeth" on each interstaminal segment of its flower ("tri-" = three; "dentis" = teeth). It was subsequently split, and the genus Tromotriche was created for the ten species which were separated.
Description

Vegetative features

Tridentea stems are typically smooth, soft and appear as roughly four-edged in cross section. The four angles are marked by rows of low tubercle mounds. In young growth, each tubercle bears a small splayed leaf-remnant. These fall off with time though. Each leaf remnant is always surrounded by several minute, fat hairs.

Floral features

Tridentea flowers are flattened, star-shaped, and usually brightly coloured. The most common colouring is a mixed mottling of greenish-yellow with purple. Their inside is usually densely papillate. Flowers appear on minute inflorescences, and each stem bears only one inflorescence, from the stem base.

Species[4]

Tridentea aperta (Masson) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea choanantha (Lavranos & Harry Hall) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea dwequensis (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea gemmiflora (Masson) Haw. - southern Africa
Tridentea herrei (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea jucunda (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea longii (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea longipes (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea marientalensis (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea pachyrrhiza (Dinter) L.C.Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea parvipuncta (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea peculiaris (C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea pedunculata (Masson) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea ruschiana (Dinter) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea umdausensis (Nel) L.C. Leach - southern Africa
Tridentea virescens (N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach

formerly included

Tridentea baylissii, syn of Tromotriche baylissii
References

Tropicos
Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
Leach, Leslie Charles. 1978. Transactions of the Rhodesia Scientific Association 59(1): 3-5
The Plant List, Tridentea