Bureaucrat, administrator, widgeteditor
146,870
edits
Changes
→Botany
''Ceropegia'' is the largest genus in the tribe ''Ceropegieae'', comprising c. 180 species in the Old World tropics. The distribution of ''Ceropegia'' extends from West Africa east to Australia, with two main centers of distribution: East and southeastern Africa (115 species) and India (40 species); 2 additional centers occur in Madagascar (20 species) and China (17 species). The extreme variability of flower morphology in the genus has led to the publication of over 500 different taxon names, of which a large number has been sunk into synonymy. The current concept of relatively few but variable species is increasingly supported by molecular data demonstrating low genetic divergence, even between morphologically rather different-looking variants, as in the ''Ceropegia aristolochioides'' Decne. complex. ''Ceropegia'' is morphologically similar to ''Riocreuxia'', and is paraphyletic to ''Brachystelma''. ''Ceropegia lugardiae'' R.Br. is a commonly found orthographic variation of ''Ceropegia lugardae''.
Many ''Ceropegia'' species have edible tubers, and they are treated separately; several . === ''Ceropegia aristolochioides'' ===Several ''Ceropegia'' species also have medicinal uses, including ''[[Ceropegia aristolochioides]]'', a widespread species in tropical Africa. In Niger a decoction of the aerial parts is applied to treat itchy skin eruptions. In Senegal and Ethiopia the tuber is cooked and eaten. === ''Ceropegia stenantha'' ===''[[Ceropegia stenantha]]'' K.Schum. occurs from Sudan south to Namibia and northern South Africa. In Tanzania a root decoction is taken to treat stomach problems in young children. In Zimbabwe the root is chewed and the sap swallowed as a lucky charm. === ''Ceropegia linearis'' ===''[[Ceropegia linearis]]'' E.Mey. ssp. ''woodii'' (Schltr.) H.Huber (synonym: ''Ceropegia woodii'' Schltr.) occurs wild in Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. In South Africa a decoction of leafy stems is taken to treat chest complaints. It is also widely cultivated throughout the world as an ornamental in hanging baskets. It is commonly known as ‘chain of hearts’ and different cultivars exist. The stem tubers are used as stock for grafting difficult stem succulents.
== Ecology ==
