bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Crassothonna clavifolia (previously Othonna clavifolia) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Namibia. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Othonna clavifolia
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Crassothonna
Species:	C. clavifolia
Binomial name
Crassothonna clavifolia (Marloth) B. Nord.

Description

This species is a low-growing succulent with grey, trailing branches and squat, cylindrical or barrel-like leaves.[1] The yellow, daisy-like flowers grow on long stalks.[1] The specific epithet, clavifolia, is from the Latin words clava meaning a club and folia meaning leaves, referring to the club-shape of the leaves.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Hermann Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth in 1910[2] as Othonna clavifolia, however, the genus was changed from Othonna by Nordenstam et al., who erected the new genus Crassothonna for a distinct clade of Othonna species.[3] The new name for this species is therefore Crassothonna clavifolia (Marloth) B.Nord.

Distribution and habitat

This species is found from the northwest of the Richtersveld where the sandveld meets the Gariep River towards the southern Namibian coast.[1] This succulent is found in sandy deserts sometimes growing among rocks.[1]

Threats and cultivation

The species was classified in 2004 by the IUCN as Least Concern,[4] although recent concern has been expressed about commercial looting of this plant as part of the succulent plant market.[5][6]

References

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