Kalanchoe Adans.

Crassulaceae, R. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Biennial or perennial or sometimes annual succulent herbs often with subrosulate leaves and scape-like inflorescence-axes, sometimes undershrubs or shrubs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually opposite and decussate, connate at the base, the lower more or less approximate, the uppermost bract-like, sessile or petiolate; lamina undivided or rarely pinnatifid, entire, crenate or serrate, usually flat, sometimes semiterete, fleshy-succulent, sometimes thin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, panicle- or corymb-like or thyrsoid, composed of cymes, usually many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous, erect, 4; pedicellate, medium-sized or ± large.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx shorter than or sometimes equalling the corolla-tube, completely green or lineolate with purple or red; sepals nearly free or more or less connate, rarely up to or beyond the middle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla gamopetalous along at least the lower 2/3; tube ± distinctly 4-angled, rounded and swollen near the base, usually constricted upwards; lobes 4, spreading or reflexed or erect and sometimes connivent, ± succulent, sometimes minutely papillose above, usually apiculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8, usually included; filaments ± connate with the corolla-tube, free above the middle of the tube; anthers ovate or oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels 4, slightly connate at the base; styles usually shorter than the ovaries.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, oblong, with longitudinally rugose tegument.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Scales semi-orbicular to linear, entire, crenulate or ± emarginate at the top.

Crassulaceae, G.E. Wickens. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs, erect or ascending, fleshy

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, simple or imparipinnate, often bearing bulbils along the margin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal or terminal and axillary paniculate cymes; flowers 4-merous, pedicellate, pendulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx cylindrical or globose-campanulate to globose-inflated, shortly 4-fid, persistent, accrescent in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla cylindrical-gibbous or subcampanulate to urceolate; lobes spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8, in 2 series, inserted near the base of the corolla-tube; filaments filiform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Nectary scales 4, oblong

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels 4, distinct or slightly connate at the base, shorter than the style; ovules numerous.

Crassulaceae, R. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Succulent herbs, undershrubs or shrubs, usually with erect stem.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, verticillate or alternate, simple and unlobed or lobed to pinnatifid or sometimes pinnate, usually petiolate, rarely sessile, flat or sometimes terete, ± fleshy-succulent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, usually corymb-like, loose to dense, few-to many-flowered, rarely panicle-like.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous, large, in ± long pedicels, usually pendulous, brightly coloured.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx shorter than the corolla; sepals 4, rarely free, usually ± connate below, sometimes into a ± long cylindric, campanulate or swollen-urceolate tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla gamopetalous; tube subcylindric or urceolate, ± distinctly 4-angled, straight or slightly curved; lobes ovate, triangular or semicircular, usually shorter than the corolla-tube, spreading or reflexed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8, inserted at the base or below the middle of corolla-tube; filaments ± exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels 4, ± connate below; styles longer than the ovaries, usually exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles with numerous seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong or obovoid with rugulose tegument.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Scales semicircular, quadrate or linear.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Succulent plants, ± erect

Morphology Leaves

Leaves fleshy, opposite or verticillate, simple, lobed or pinnate, usually petiolate, producing adventitious plantlets usually along the margins of the leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, corymbose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous, pendulous, pedicellate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals usually united into a calyx tube, not exceeding corolla

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tubular, lobes spreading or reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8, usually inserted in lower half of base of corolla tube

Morphology General Scales

Scales rounded or rectangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style longer than ovary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, ± oblong, angular, rugulose.

Distribution

Originating in Madagascar, there are more than 30 species of Bryophyllum, many of which are cultivated.

Note

Bryophyllum (from the Gr. βρηο bryo to sprout and φηλλον phyllon a leaf, the name refers to the adventitious plantlets produced on the leaves. The production of these numerous propagules accounts for many escapes into the wild.)