Perennial leafless dwarf succulent herb, mat-forming rarely rhizomatous, sometimes prostrate or pendulous succulent. Branches glabrous, smooth, 4- to 16-angled. Leaves reduced mainly to soft point without stipular structures. The leaf-rudiments are borne on a raised tubercle which is a much swollen leaf-base. These tubercles are arranged in rows along the branch and joined towards their bases into angles along the branch with a groove between vertical rows of tubercles. Inflorescence glabrous, usually only one per branch, arising mainly in lower half of branch between tubercles, 1–10 flowered. Corolla urceolate to campanulate to subrotate, shallowly lobed. Staminal corona in two well-separated series, inner pressed to backs of anthers mostly exceeding them and meeting in centre, often with prominent transversely-rounded dorsal projections. Outer spreading along base of tube, discrete to fused into spreading disc with fleshy tubercle beneath guide-rail obscuring entrance to small nectarial cavity. Anthers horizontal on top of style-head, margins shrinking back to expose pollinia, rectangular. Pollinium ellipsoidal, longer than broad, insertion-crest exactly along outer edge, caudicle attached with broad cupular pad to base. Follicles erect, terete-fusiform, obclavate, slender, consisting of two horns diverging at 30–60°, longitudinally mottled with narrow broken purple stripes, glabrous, smooth (Bruyns 2005, 2014; Bruyns et al. 2017).

Dwarf succulent forming dense clump. Branches 60 mm long, non-rhizomatous, erect, decumbent, grey-green mottled with purple-red; tubercles up to 10 mm long (including leaf-rudiment), conical, spreading, laterally flattened and joined into 5 angles along branch, each tipped with a soft slender acuminate caducous leaf-rudiment. Inflorescence usually only 1 per branch, arising in lower half of branch, each bearing 2–3 flowers developing mainly successively, flowers with no unpleasant smell; pedicel spreading and holding flower facing horizontally. Corolla 15 mm diam., shallow bowl shape; outside smooth, cream-speckled with maroon, with 1 heavy (+ 2 lighter) raised longitudinal veins running from lobes to base of tube; inside uniformly coloured with purplish-red, covered except in lower third of tube with very small wart-like papillae; tube cupular; lobes ascending, deltoid, acuminate. Corona without basal stipe; outer lobes spreading on base of tube and fused partially to it, discrete to 5-lobed with each lobe subquadrate emarginate or slightly crenate, blackish-maroon; inner lobes maroon, adpressed to backs of anthers exceeding them and meeting in centre, dorsiventrally flattened around laterally broadened base becoming terete above and tapering gradually to obtuse bristly apex, a transversely conspicuously gibbous, broadened at the base with an acute end.

Map 1. 

Distribution of Ceropegia macrocarpa in Saudi Arabia.

Rare, known only from Asir between Abha and Jabal Sawdah, SW Saudi Arabia (Chaudhary 2001).

Somaliland, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South west Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen) (Albers and Meve 2002).

Growing amongst granitic rocks and scattered shrubs on a steep hillside at 2700 m alt. (Collenette 1999).

This species can be easily distinguished from other members of sect. Huernia in Saudi Arabia by the small maroon bowl-shaped flowers.

Macrocarpus (Greek) 'makros', large; and 'karpos', fruit (Eggli and Newton 2004).

The species is known only from one location near Sawda Mountain; the estimated EOO and AOO of 8 km² would place the species in the Critically Endangered (CR) status. However, little is known about the size of the population and possible threats. Therefore, Data Deficient (DD) is assigned to this species.

Figure 5. 

Ceropegia macrocarpa A branch B side view of dissected flower C papillae inside corolla in mouth of tube D side view of gynostegium. Drawn from photo of ex JRI Wood 1202, sub DP7571, Jabal Melhan, 20 km E Al Mighlaf, Yemen.

Ethiopia, Gilbert 2945 (E [fl in spirit])

Dwarf succulent forming dense clump. Branches 50–100 mm long, non-rhizomatous, decumbent, grey-green mottled with purple-red; tubercles 7–16 mm long (including leaf-rudiment), 1.5–5 mm broad at base, conical, spreading, laterally flattened and joined into 5 angles along stem, each tipped with a soft slender acuminate caducous leaf- rudiment. Inflorescence usually only 1 per branch, arising in lower half of branch, each bearing 1–7 flowers developing mainly simultaneously or in gradual succession from short peduncle, with several filiform bracts without lateral teeth, flowers with mainly very foetid odour, rarely faint or no unpleasant smell; pedicel 5–21.5 mm long, 1–2 mm thick, spreading and holding flower facing horizontally, tapering sometimes toward the point of flower attachment; sepals 10–18 mm long, 1–2 mm broad at base, attenuate. Corolla 27–47 mm diam., tubular-campanulate to campanulate; outside smooth, white to creamy-white or cream speckled with pale maroon spots uniformly scattered, sometimes spots become darker especially on the lower or upper half of corolla tube, with 1 heavy (+ 2 lighter) raised longitudinal veins running from lobes to base of tube; inside creamy-white to cream with irregular-shaped narrow short maroon lines and dashes changing to narrow concentric broken lines in lower half of tube, covered except in lower third of tube with slender (hair-like) papillae densely crowded around mouth of tube (up to 3 mm long and 0.75 mm an base in tube mouth), each tipped by minute apical acuminata bristle; tube 7–13 mm long, 9–14 mm broad at mouth, pentagonal; lobes 13–18 mm long, 8–12 mm broad at base, ascending to slightly spreading, narrowly deltoid and usually longer than wide, attenuate usually concave or form channel above, intermediate lobes 1–2.5 mm long. Corona without basal stipe; outer lobes (4.5–8 mm diam.) spreading on base of tube and fused partially to it; fused together into disc with crenate margin to a slightly disc-like with rounded to subquadrate short and broad lobes, rarely discrete to 5-lobed with each lobe subquadrate mucronate, blackish maroon; inner lobes 3–5.5 mm long, 0.5–1.5 mm at base, ivory white sometimes mottled with a few maroon spots at the tips, adpressed to anthers in their lower half then rising up connivent and then diverging towards apices, dorsiventrally flattened around laterally-broadened base becoming terete above and tapering gradually to a slender fine minutely-scabrous apex, at base with inflated transversal dorsal gibbosity with rounded to acute end. Pollinia 0.1–0.7 mm long.

Map 2. 

Distribution of Ceropegia khalidbinsultanii.

Scattered over a wide area, extending from Khamis Mushait in SW of the country to Jabal Radhwa, 75 km north of Yanbu in the Western Region.

Probably endemic to SW Arabian Peninsula, known so far from Saudi Arabia only.

Growing on granitic outcrops often under shrubs, from 1800–2100 m alt. Flowering Dec.-May

Ceropegia khalidbinsultanii is best distinguished from the closely-related C. lodarensis by longer tubercles (up to 16 mm) on the branches and the smaller, white to creamy-white tubular-campanulate corolla streaked with narrow maroon lines, slender (hairy) papillae and a very foetid odour.

The foetid odour of the flower becomes weak or completely vanishes after all pollinia have been removed from the flower.

Khalidbinsultanii for Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz M., a former Saudi Deputy Minister of Defence (Plowes and McCoy 2003).

Near Threatened (NT) has been assigned to Ceropegia khalidbinsultanii, based on the species’ EOO of 41,490 km² and AOO of 2,012 km² and the current threats of habitat transformation (roads and housing construction), population fragmentation and tourism.

Figure 6. 

Ceropegia khalidbinsultanii A Alharbi S00 (H. asirensis) B Alharbi S10b (H. asirensis) C Alharbi S4a (H. asirensis) D Collenette 5944, Jabal Radhwa, (H. radhwana, Type) E Alharbi S16a (H. asirensis) F Collenette 1309, Al-Baha, (H. asirensis, Type) G Collenette 5970, Jabal Anagyan (H. anagaynensis, Type) H ex Tom McCoy KSA129 sub DP8384, 25 km SW of Khamis Mushayt, (H. khalidbinsultanii, Type) I follicles, Alharbi S14a. (A–C, E, I) photo by the first author from Wadi Thee Gazal, Ash Shafa; (D, F, G) reproduced from Plowes (2012)); (H) received from D. Plowes in 2011.

Saudi Arabia – Al-Taif • S.A. Alharbi S3a (UQU); Wadi Thee Gazal, Ash Shafa; 21°5.5702'N, 40°21.785'E; alt. 2057 m; 23 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S4a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 1 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S6a (UQU); same data as for preceding;10 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S7a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 9 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S8a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 19 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S16a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 8 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S16A (UQU); same data as for preceding; 30 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S13a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 9 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S14a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 17 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S00 (UQU); 9 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S10b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 21°5.4656'N, 40°21.7937'E; 9 Dec 2010.

Figure 7. 

Ceropegia khalidbinsultanii A branch B side view of dissected flower C face view of gynostegium D side view of gynostegium E papillae inside corolla in mouth of tube F pollinarium. Drawn from S.A. Alharbi S4a, Wadi Thee Gazal, Ash Shafa.

Yemen • J.R.I. Wood 3037 (holotype: K [46740.000]); Jebel Marran, Khawlan As Sham; 16°49.2672'N, 43°24.7619'E; alt. 1400 m; 31 Oct 1979.

Dwarf succulent forming dense clump. Branches non-rhizomatous, up to 80 mm long, erect, decumbent, grey-green mottled with purple or red; tubercles 3–5 mm long, 1 mm broad at base, conical, spreading, laterally flattened and joined towards base into 5 angles along branch, abruptly narrowing into fine spreading slender acuminate tooth. Inflorescences 1–2 per branch, each of 2–5 flowers developing in gradual succession on short peduncle with few narrow filiform bracts; pedicel 15 mm long, spreading and holding flower facing horizontally; flowers with no scent; sepals 15 mm long, 3 mm broad at base, narrowly ovate attenuate. Corolla 32 mm diam., broadly funnel-shaped, margin weakly bulging like an annulus; outside smooth, pale cream with 1 heavy (+ 2–4 lighter) raised longitudinal veins running down each lobe; inside shiny creamy-yellow, marked with shiny irregular broad maroon streaks and scrolls, smooth with few low conical papillae (wart-like) at corolla lobes apices each with minute apical bristle; tube 6 mm long, 10 mm broad at mouth, cupular; lobes 10 mm long, 14 mm broad at base, reflexed, deltoid-acuminate, intermediate lobes 1 mm long. Corona without basal stipe; outer lobes (discrete 5 lobes), 4 mm diam., subquadrate, emarginate to shallowly bifid, spreading on base of tube and fused to it towards base, blackish-maroon; inner lobes 1 mm long, purple with cream at base, adpressed to backs of anthers and shorter than them, dorsiventrally flattened with ascending obtuse conspicuous gibbous at base, tapering to small smooth acute apex.

Map 3. 

Distribution of Ceropegia laevis in Saudi Arabia.

Jabal Al Qahar, 90 km NE of Baysh, Jazan, SW Saudi Arabia (Chaudhary 2001).

Probably endemic to SW Arabian Peninsula, known so far from Saudi Arabia and Yemen (Chaudhary 2001).

Growing amongst limestones amongst Juniperus at 1828–2000 m alt. (Collenette 1999). Flowering: mainly September–May

Ceropegia laevis should be considered as Nationally Endangered (EN), according to the IUCN Red List criteria. The species is known from only one location, its EOO and AOO (104.00 km²) would both qualify as Endangered. Its habitat is not part of any protected area and its continuing decline is projected because of anthropogenic activities in the area.

Figure 8. 

Ceropegia laevis, Jabal Qahar, 90 km NE of Baysh, Jazan, Saudi Arabia A Collenette 8177 B ex S Collenette 8180 sub DP8296. Reproduced from Plowes (2014).

Ceropegia laevis can easily be distinguished from most other species of sect. Huernia in Saudi Arabia by the glabrous shiny yellow background colour of the inside of the corolla, which has an annulus-like area around the mouth of the tube.

Laevis (Latin) smooth, flat; for the glabrous corolla (Eggli and Newton 2004).

Saudi Arabia – Jazan • I.S. Collenette 8180 (K [fl in spirit: 57656.000]); Jabal Qahar; 17°42.0367'N, 42°51.1983'E; alt. 2000 m; 20 Apr 1992.

Figure 9. 

Ceropegia laevis A branch B side view of dissected flower C face view of gynostegium D side view of gynostegium E papillae inside corolla in lobe tip F pollinarium. Drawn from Collenette 8180, Jabal Qahar.

Dwarf succulent forming dense clump. Branches 30–100 mm long, non-rhizomatous, erect to decumbent, grey-green mottled with purple-red; tubercles 4–10 mm long (including leaf-rudiment), 1.5–5 mm broad at base, conical, spreading, laterally flattened and joined into 5 angles along branch, each tipped with a soft slender acuminate caducous leaf-rudiment. Inflorescence arising in lower half of branch, usually 1 per branch, each bearing 2–10 flowers developing in gradual succession from short peduncle sometimes 3 flowers developing simultaneously, bracts filiform without lateral teeth, flowers with no foetid odour, rarely with faint unpleasant smell; pedicel 8–20 mm long, 1–2.5 mm thick, ascending holding flower facing upwards, tapering sometimes toward the point of flower attachment; sepals 8–18 mm long, 1–2.5 mm broad at base, attenuate. Corolla 30–50 mm diam., campanulate; outside smooth, cream-speckled with pale maroon spots uniformly scattered or concentrated on the upper half of corolla tube sometimes spots become darker especially on the upper half, with 1 heavy (+ 2–4 lighter) raised longitudinal veins running from lobes to base of tube; inside cream with irregular-shaped short maroon lines and dashes changing to concentric broken lines in lower half of tube or uniformly coloured with purplish-red, sometimes deep coloured areas concentrated between the lobes or corolla entirely uniformly coloured with purplish-red; corolla covered, except in lower third of tube with compressed conical papillae densely crowded and reaching maximum size around mouth of tube (up to 3 mm long and 1.2 mm base width), each tipped by minute apical acuminata bristle; tube 7.5–15.5 mm long, 11–22 mm broad at mouth, pentagonal; lobes 9–22.8 mm long, 9–14.25 mm broad at base, spreading with recurved apex or sometimes reflexed, deltoid, caudate to acute or acuminate rarely attenuate usually concave or form channel at tip, intermediate lobes 1.5–4 mm long. Corona without basal stipe; outer lobes (5–10 mm diam.) spreading on base of tube and fused partially to it, discrete to 5 lobes with each lobe rectangular rarely subquadrate crenate, dentate, mucronate, emerginate or bifid blackish-maroon; inner lobes 3–6 mm long, 1–1.5 mm at base, ivory white sometimes mottled with a few maroon spots at the tips or marked entirely with small purple spots adpressed to anthers in their lower half, then rising up connivent and then diverging towards apices, dorsiventrally flattened around laterally-broadened base becoming terete above and tapering gradually to a slender fine minutely-scabrous or smooth apex, at base with slightly inflated transversal dorsal gibbosity with rounded to truncate end, sometimes a conspicuous acute humb appearing in the staminal tube under corona base, rarely hook-like appendages grow from both sides of the base meeting above the guardrails. Pollinia 0.7–0.8 mm long.

Branches 30–90 mm long; tubercles 4–10 mm long (including leaf-rudiment), 1.5–5 mm broad at base. Inflorescence bearing 2–10 flowers developing in gradual succession from short peduncle, sometimes 3 flowers developing simultaneously, flowers with no foetid odour, rarely with faint unpleasant smell; pedicel 8–20 mm long, 1–2.5 mm thick, ascending holding flower facing upwards, tapering sometimes towards the point of flower attachment; sepals 8–18 mm long, 1–2.5 mm broad at base, attenuate. Corolla 30–50 mm diam., campanulate; outside smooth, cream-speckled with pale maroon spots uniformly scattered or concentrated on the upper half of corolla tube, sometimes spots become darker especially on the upper half; inside cream with irregular-shaped short maroon lines and dashes changing to concentric broken lines in lower half of tube or uniformly coloured with purplish-red, sometimes deep coloured areas concentrated between the lobes or corolla entirely uniformly coloured with purplish-red; papillae up to 3 mm long and 1.2 mm base width; tube 7.5–15.5 mm long, 11–22 mm broad at mouth, pentagonal; lobes 9–22.8 mm long, 9–14.25 mm broad at base, spreading to spreading with recurved apex or sometimes reflexed, deltoid, caudate to acute or acuminate, concave at tip, intermediate lobes 1.5–4 mm long. Outer corona lobes (5–10 mm diam.) discrete to 5 rectangular lobes; inner lobes 3–6 mm long, 1–1.5 mm at base.

Map 4. 

Distribution of Ceropegia lodarensis var. lodarensis in Saudi Arabia.

Figure 10. 

Ceropegia lodarensis var. lodarensis A ex J Lavranos 1789, sub DP3604, Yemen, (H. lodarensis, Type) B Alharbi S6B (H. collenetteae) C Alharbi S9B (H. collenetteae) D ex Collenette 549 sub DP6865, Jabal Al Sawdah, (H. saudi-arabica, Type) E Alharbi S2B (H. collenetteae) F Alharbi S18a (H. collenetteae) G Collenette 2227, Al-Hadda, (H. collenetteae) H ex Collenette 8232 sub DP8126, (H. saudi-arabica) I Alharbi S4B (H. collenetteae) J ex Collenette 1176 sub DP6868, Jabal Al Sawdah, (H. collenetteae, Type) K maroon uniform colour of corolla tube in ex Collenette sub DP6594, Abha, (H. saudi-arabica) L concentric broken maroon lines of corolla tube in Alharbi S6B (H. collenetteae). (A) reproduced from Plowes (2014); (D, G, H, J, K) reproduced from Plowes (2012); (B, C, E, F, I, L) photo by the first author from Wadi Thee Gazal, Ash Shafa.

Scattered over a wide area, extending from Al Habala in SW of the country to Al-Hadda in Al-Taif in the Western Region.

Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia and Yemen) and Africa (Ethiopia; Bruyns, P.V. 8432, E; http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00995868)

It occurs at 900–2650 m alt. in granitic outcrops mainly under shrubs. Flowering: mostly Aug-May

Ceropegia lodarensis var. lodarensis is most similar to C. khalidbinsultanii, but differs in having a larger campanulate corolla with compressed conical papillae (up to 1.2 mm broad at base), sometimes uniformly coloured with purplish-red, flower with no or only faint bad smell and has shorter tubercles on the branches.

Lodarensis for the occurrence at Lodar (Lawdar) in Yemen (Eggli and Newton 2004).

Ceropegia lodarensis var. lodarensis should be assessed as Near Threatened (NT) in Saudi Arabia due to species’ AOO of 3,900 km² and EOO of 12,509.959 km² and the current threats of tourism, overgrazing, infrastructure and housing development.

Saudi Arabia – Asir • I.S. Collenette 1280 (k [fl in spirit: 44272.000] & E); Al Habala, 50 km SE of Abha; 18°1.6787'N, 42°51.3655'E; alt. 2384 m; 06 Apr1979.

Saudi Arabia – Al-Baha • I.S. Collenette 7785 (k [fl in spirit: 57339.000]); Jabal Shada, SW of Al Baha; 19°50.9947'N, 41°19.0693'E; alt.1933 m; 07 Apr1991; I.S. Collenette 8267 (K [fl in spirit: 59350.000]); same data as for preceding; 15 Sep1992.

Saudi Arabia – Al-Taif • I.S. Collenette 815 (K!, herbarium specimen); Wadi Ammak near Al Hadda; 21°20.9808'N, 40°17.7485'E; alt. 2100 m; I.S. Collenette 2227 (K [fl in spirit: 44371.000, 53692.000]); Al-Hada; 21°20.8387'N, 40°17.152'E; alt. 2000 m; 1981; I.S. Collenette 2633 (K [fl in spirit:45473.000, 45894.000, herb. material sub DP6599 & sub Leach 17652]); SW of Al Hadda, off Taif to Abha Road; 21°18.4696'N, 40°22.1371'E; alt. 2100 m; 07 May 1981; I.S. Collenette 5780 (K [fl in spirit: 35856.000]); Between Al Hadda and Harithi; 21°5.7571'N, 40°55.0155'E; alt. 1620 m; 23 Mar1986; S.A. Alharbi S1b (UQU); Wadi Thee Gazal, Ash Shafa; 21°5.4656'N, 40°21.7937'E; alt. 2057 m; 29 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S2b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 09 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S3b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 23 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S4b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 29 Dec 2010; S.A. Alharbi S5b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 23 Nov 2010; S.A. Alharbi S6b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 02 Oct 2011; S.A. Alharbi S9b (UQU); same data as for preceding; 23 Nov 2010; S.A. Alharbi S9a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 05 Jan 2011; S.A. Alharbi S18a (UQU); same data as for preceding; 21°5.5702'N, 40°21.785'E; 17 Dec 2010.

I.S. Collenette 1523 (E [fl in spirit]); A.J. Bntler AJB 13 (E [fl in spirit]).

Figure 11. 

Ceropegia lodarensis var. lodarensis A branch B side view of dissected flower C face view of gynostegium D side view of gynostegium E papillae inside corolla in mouth of tube F pollinarium. Drawn from (A) S.A. Alharbi S2B; (B–F) S.A. Alharbi S6B, Wadi Thee Gazal, Ash Shafa.

Saudi Arabia – Jazan • I.S. Collenette 3743 (holotype: K! [fl in spirit: 38892.000]); Jabal Fayfa, 80 km NE Jazan; 17°14.5296'N, 43°4.9368'E; alt. 1550 m; 31 Jul 1982.

Branches up to 100 mm long; tubercles 7 mm long (including leaf-rudiment), 1.5 mm broad at base. Inflorescence bearing up to 4 flowers developing in gradual succession, flowers with very foetid odour; pedicel spreading and holding flower facing horizontally, tapering towards the point of flower attachment. Corolla 40 mm diam., campanulate; outside smooth, cream; inside cream with maroon dots changing to concentric short dashes in lower half of tube covered, except in lower third of tube with compressed conical papillae densely crowded and reach maximum size around mouth of tube (up to 1 mm long and 0.5 mm broad at base); tube 11 mm long, 10 mm broad at mouth, pentagonal; lobes spreading, deltoid, attenuate with deep groove at tip, intermediate lobes 1 mm long. Outer corona lobes 8 mm diam., five discrete rectangular lobes; inner lobes 3 mm long, 1 mm at base.

Map 5. 

Distribution of Ceropegia lodarensis var. foetida.

Rare, known so far from Jabal Fayfa, 80 km NE Jazan, SW of the country (Plowes 2012).

Probably endemic to SW Arabian Peninsula known so far from Saudi Arabia.

Occurs in granitic outcrops at 1550 m alt (Collenette 1999).

Clearly distinct by its campanulate corolla that is dotted with maroon inside and has a very foetid odour when it opens.

Figure 12. 

Ceropegia lodarensis var. foetida (H. foetida) Jabal Fayfa, Type. Reproduced from Plowes (2012).

Foetidus (Latin) smelly, for the strong, unpleasant smell of flowers.

Ceropegia lodarensis var. foetida is estimated to have an EOO of 80.173 km² (which would place the species in Critically Endangered, CR) and AOO of 88 km² (which would place it in EN). The size of its populations and current threats are not well-known, but populations in mountainous areas in Saudi Arabia are likely impacted by agriculture, overgrazing, development and tourism. Therefore, var. foetida should be considered Data Deficient (DD).

Figure 13. 

Ceropegia lodarensis var. foetida A branch B side view of dissected flower C face view of gynostegium D side view of gynostegium E papillae inside corolla in mouth of tube F pollinarium. Drawn from Collenette 3743, Jabal Fayfa.

Saudi Arabia – Najran • I.S. Collenette 1482 (holotype: k! herb. material); Jabal Manfah, 24 km NE Najran; 17°36.9386'N, 44°12.3742'E; alt. 1700 m; 30 Apr 1979.

Branches 30–60 mm long, stout; tubercles 5.5–6 mm long (including leaf-rudiment), 2–3 mm broad at base. Inflorescence bearing 6 flowers developing in gradual succession from short peduncle, flowers with faint unpleasant smell; pedicel 11 mm long, 2 mm thick, ascending holding flower facing upwards, tapering sometimes towards the point of flower attachment; sepals 9.5 mm long, 2 mm broad at base, attenuate. Corolla 32 mm diam., campanulate; outside smooth, cream-speckled with pale maroon spots on the upper half of corolla tube; inside cream with rounded maroon spots or dashes changing to concentric broken lines in lower half of tube; papillae up to 1.5 mm long and 0.75 mm broad at base; tube 10 mm long, 12 mm broad at mouth, pentagonal; lobes 8 mm long, 7.5 mm broad at base, spreading with recurved apex, deltoid, acute concave at tip, intermediate lobes 1.5 mm long. Outer corona lobes 5 mm diam. fused into disc or a slightly disc-like with short subquadrate crenate; inner lobes 3 mm long, 1 mm at base.

Map 6. 

Distribution of Ceropegia lodarensis var. rubrosticta.

Rare, known only from Najran Region, SW Saudi Arabia (Plowes 2012).

Probably endemic to SW Arabian Peninsula, known so far only from Saudi Arabia

Concentrated amongst rounded granitic boulders at 500–1700 m alt. (Collenette 1999). Flowering: March-April.

The variety is most similar to the Ethiopian endemic Huernia boleana, from which it can be separated with flowers by the much more campanulate corolla that is wider than the long, pentagonal tube, the more conical papillae and the shorter inner coronal lobes (ca. 3 mm compared to ca. 6 mm in H. boleana) and with habit and habitat that is erect to decumbent amongst granitic rocks compared to H. boleana that is erect, pendulous or prostrate in basalt or sandstone.

It can be easily distinguished from the other varieties of C. lodarensis proposed here by the stout branches, flowers with more evenly-rounded spots inside that are more red in colour and by the more slender papillae.

Figure 14. 

Ceropegia lodarensis var. rubrosticta (H. rubrosticta) A ex S Collenette s.n. sub DP7639, Al Jawshan, 70 km NW Najran (Type) B Collenette 1482, Jabal Manfah, 24 km NE Najran. Reproduced from Plowes (2012).

Ceropegia lodarensis var. rubrosticta has an estimated EOO of 97.188 km² (which would place the species in CR) and AOO of 20 km² (which would place it in EN). The size of populations and current threats are little known. Therefore, C. lodarensis var. rubrosticta should be considered Data Deficient (DD).

Saudi Arabia – Najran • I.S. Collenette 6059 (K [fl in spirit: 51184.000]); Al Jawshan, 70 km NW Najran; 18°8.4287'N, 43°51.2486'E; alt. 1520 m.; 07 Mar 1987.

Figure 15. 

Ceropegia lodarensis var. rubrosticta A branch B side view of dissected flower C face view of gynostegium D side view of gynostegium E papillae inside corolla in mouth of tube F pollinarium. Drawn from (A, B2, C) DP7639, Al Jawshan, 70 km NW Najran; (B1, D, E) Collenette 6059.