Quaqua

The genus Quaqua falls within the tribe of plants known collectively as stapeliads. All stapeliads, including Quaqua, are Old World stem succulents.[1]

This article is about the plant genus. For the indigenous South American language, see Piaroa language.

Quaqua
Quaqua mammillaris (the "aroena"), a widespread and common species from the south-western Cape.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Genus: Quaqua
N.E.Br.

Species of the genus Quaqua are exceptionally varied and endemic to southwestern Africa, and locally very common in Namaqualand.

Description
Quaqua pillansii, from the Little Karoo, has smooth, erect grey stems
Quaqua ramosa, from the western Karoo, locally called "Ou Ram" ("old ram"), is unusual in having rounded tubercles instead of the typical quaqua spikes

Species of Quaqua are usually characterised by having stout, firm, 4 or 5-sided stems bearing conical tubercles which often have a tough, tapering spike at their ends. A few species lack the spikes or have smoothly rounded tubercles.[1]

Quaqua flowers are distinctive from those of other southern African stapeliads for their numerous inflorescences emerging from each stem, especially closer to the ends. There are often ten along each stem, vertically arranged in distichous series. The flowers of some species are sweet smelling (faintly of honey or lemon), attractive and rather small (between 7 and 15 mm in diameter). The flowers of other species however, are larger, reaching a maximum diameter of 27 mm and are dark, papillate, and usually have a repulsive odor of urine or excrement. These species are pollinated by flies.[1]

Distribution

In distribution, the genus Quaqua is restricted to the western (winter-rainfall) region of South Africa & Namibia. Its distribution closely mirrors that of related genus Tromotriche.

Species[2]
  1. Quaqua acutiloba (N.E.Br.) Bruyns
  2. Quaqua arida (Masson) Plowes
  3. Quaqua armata (N.E.Br.) Bruyns
  4. Quaqua framesii (Pillans) Bruyns
  5. Quaqua incarnata (L.f.) Bruyns
  6. Quaqua inversa (N.E.Br.) Bruyns
  7. Quaqua linearis (N.E.Br.) Bruyns
  8. Quaqua mammillaris (L.) Bruyns
  9. Quaqua marlothii (N.E.Br.) Bruyns
  10. Quaqua multiflora (R.A.Dyer) Bruyns
  11. Quaqua parviflora (Masson) Bruyns
  12. Quaqua pillansii (N.E.Br.) Bruyns
  13. Quaqua pruinosa (Masson) Bruyns
  14. Quaqua ramosa (Masson) Bruyns

The species of this genus can be divided into two main groups, based on their floral structure: One group bears flowers singly or in pairs; the other bears flowers in clusters of between 4 and 20. The species of the second grouping can in turn be divided into two sections: One with purple to dark-brown flowers that are wider than 25mm (e.g. Quaqua mammillaris or Quaqua pillansii); the other with yellow to cream flowers that are narrower than 25mm.[3]

References
  1. P.V.Bruyns, Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town (2002). "The South African genera of the stapeliads" (PDF). Aloe. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2009.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. The Plant List
  3. P.V.Bruyns (1983). Bradleya 1:63.
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