Othonna capensis

Crassothonna capensis (previously Othonna capensis), also known as little pickles (USA), ruby necklace (Australia), Cape aster, Cape Othonna, and Bobbejaankool (Afrikaans),[3] is a species of the genus Crassothonna previously (Othonna) in the family Asteraceae, and is a native of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.[4] It is a native highveld species that originates from the southern Drakensberg region.[5]

Little pickles
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Subfamily:
Asteroideae
Tribe:
Senecioneae
Genus:
Crassothonna
Species:
C. capensis
Binomial name
Crassothonna capensis
Synonyms

Othonna capensis L.H. Bailey
Source: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World[1] Othonna crassifolia Harv.
Source: AFPD[2]

Description

This species is a low-growing, succulent, spreading ground cover with finger-like, blue-grey leaves, spirally arranged, which become tipped with maroon in dry conditions.[3] It has yellow daisy-like flowers on long, slender stems.[3]

Taxonomy

It was described by L.H. Bailey in 1901 and published in the Cyclopedia of American Horticulture[6] replacing the original description and name from 1865 Othonna crassifolia Harv. In turn, the genus was changed from Othonna by Nordenstam et al., who erected the new genus Crassothonna for the clade of Othonna species O. sedifolia, O. alba and O. capensis.[7] The new name for this species is therefore Crassothonna capensis (L.H.Bailey) B.Nord.

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the Eastern Cape Province in semi-arid Karoo scrub and dry, rocky flats, often in the partial protection of surrounding vegetation or rocks.[3]

Cultivation

In cultivation, the species is commonly called little pickles in the USA or ruby necklace in Australia and is used for rockeries, terrariums, indoor hanging pots and outside xeriscaping.

References
  1. "Crassothonna capensis". Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  2. "Othonna capensis record n° 100643". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  3. Solomon, Lorraine. "Othonna capensis". Kumbula Nursery. Retrieved 28 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. van Jaarsveld, Ernst (2006). "Othonna triplinervia". Cactus and Succulent Journal. 78 (6): 316–317. doi:10.2985/0007-9367(2006)78[316:OTANCD]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 198149644 – via BioOne.
  5. van Jaarsveld, Ernst (1998). "The Highveld Garden". Veld & Flora. 84: 17–21 – via Sabinet.
  6. Bailey, Liberty Hyde (1901). Cyclopedia of American Horticulture. New York: The Macmillan Company. p. 1180.
  7. Nordenstam, B.; Pelser, P. B.; Kadereit, J.W.; Watson, L.E. (2009). "Senecioneae". Systematics, Evolution and Biogeography of Compositae. Vienna, Austria: International Association for Plant Taxonomy, Institute of Botany, University of Vienna. pp. 503–521. ISBN 9783950175431.

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