Curio talinoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Curio
Species:
C. talinoides
Binomial name
Curio talinoides
P.V.Heath[1]

Curio talinoides, syn. Senecio mandraliscae, also known as blue straws, blue chalksticks, dassieharpuis, or narrow-leaf chalk sticks, is a succulent plant of the family Asteraceae that is native to South Africa.[2] The origin of this plant is dubious and it may be a hybrid.[3]

Description

Leaves of blue chalksticks

The bluest of the curio plants, it is about 50 to 70 cm tall with 4.5-9.5 cm long leaves that are thickly and alternately arranged, jammed on the stems, and are set about 0.3-0.5 cm aside. The leaves are linear, rising, sickle shaped and would be narrow at both ends.

Unlike the similar looking Curio repens, its leaves are much narrower and elongated.[4] Curio repens is also easily distinguished by its shorter, often boat-shaped leaves.[5] It is also easily confused with Curio ficoides, which has a similar growth habit. However, the leaves of C. talinoides are rounded-cylindrical in cross section. In contrast, the leaves of C. ficoides are usually somewhat knife-like, flattened laterally.[6]

A hybrid of this and 'repens', known as Senecio 'Trident Blue' exists.

Subspecies and cultivars

  • Senecio talinoides (DC.) Sch.Bip.: (subsp. talinoides) has finer texture
  • Senecio talinoides subs. aizoides (DC.) G.D.Rowley: has 2-8 capitula per inflorescence
  • Senecio talinoides subs. chordifolius (Hook.f.) G.D.Rowley: has the longest leaves and is more droopy
  • Senecio talinoides f. cristatus: has a crested form.
  • Senecio talinoides subs. cylindricus (A.Berger) G.D.Rowley: has cylindrical leaves
  • Senecio talinoides subs. mandraliscae (Tineo) G.D.Rowley: has short spindle-like leaves 5–8 mm as long, later elongating.

References

  1. ↑ Heath, P.V. 1999. Calyx 6(2): 55.
  2. ↑ Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDGW – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
  3. ↑ Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae (Tineo) P.V.Heath by Llifle, The Encyclopedia of Succulents
  4. ↑ Curio talinoides (DC.) P.V.Heath by PlantZAfrica.com
  5. ↑ Curio talinoides by World of Succulents
  6. ↑ G.Rowley (1994). Succulent Compositae: A Grower's Guide to the Succulent Species of Senecio & Othonna. Strawberry Press. ISBN 0912647124, 9780912647128
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