Kleinia neriifolia explained

Kleinia neriifolia, known in Spanish as verode or berode, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is endemic to the Canary Islands. It was formerly named Senecio kleinia.[1]

Description

A succulent plant,[2] Kleinia neriifolia has articulated branches (constrictions that make them look like rows of sausages)[3] and thick, stubby, elongated leaves up to long which grow directly from the main stem or branch without a petiole or footstalk. The leaves grow clustered in crowded circles at the tops of the branches.[3] [2] Plants can reach 3 m (10 ft) or more. Fragrant grey white flowers appear at any time between March and October. The plant is deciduous, the leaves falling at the beginning of the dry season.[4] As with many succulents, reproduction by cuttings is possible.

Habitat

Kleinia neriifolia grows abundantly in the Tabaibal-Cardonal zone or the arid, subtropical areas, often with steep and eroded substrates which are more pronounced and dominant in the eastern archipelago.[5] The vegetation can be compared with that of the arid areas of Sudan, Ethiopia, Arabia and Iran and is typical of the steppe in the African continent.[3]

Horticulture

The plant is used in gardens with dry conditions. The plant requires a minimum exposure to the sun. The minimum winter temperature it can endure is -2°C.[4]

Kleinia neriifolia has been successfully cultivated as a houseplant and as landscaping. It is on a list of suggested fire safe landscaping.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bramwell. D.. Bramwell. Z.. 2001. Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Editorial Rueda. Madrid, Spain. 84-7207-129-4.
  2. Book: Warming , Eugenius . Eugenius Warming . Oecology of Plants . 1909 . 1977 . Ayer Publishing . 300 Bedford Street, Manchester, NH . 0-405-10423-5 . 32 Storage of Water by Land Plants . https://books.google.com/books?id=aKXsiOsqlp0C&pg=PA123.
  3. Web site: Canary Islands Flora - Arid Habitat . 2008-03-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080306042504/http://www.canaryislandflora.com/arid.htm . 2008-03-06 .
  4. Web site: LE PIANTE - Senecio kleinia . 2008-03-02 . Elio Darcangeli . PIANTE GRASS and SUCCULANTS . it.
  5. S. Rivas Goday y F. Esteve Chueca . Ensayo fitosociológico de la "Crassi-Euphorbieta" macaronesica y estudio de los tabaibales y cardonales de Gran Canaria . Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid . 22 . 1 . 221–339 . es . Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid . Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid . 2008-03-02.
  6. Web site: Tree Notes . 2008-03-02 . Jeanette Knutson-Pedersen . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . July 2005 . Fire Safe Landscaping . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080510144511/http://www.plumasfiresafe.org/Documents/treenote17.fire%20resits%20plant.3.pdf . 2008-05-10 .