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Home Home » GENERA T-Z » Tylecodon » Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus
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Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus

Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus
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  • Tylecodon paniculatus flowering
  • Tylecodon paniculatus leaves
  • Tylecodon paniculatus new and old floral growth
  • Tylecodon paniculatus new beginnings
  • Tylecodon paniculatus, a big one
  • Tylecodon paniculatus, a tall one
  • Tylecodon paniculatus, three of them
  • Tylecodon pygmaeus
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus distress
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus dry fruit husks
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus dry inflorescence remains
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus elliptic leaves
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus many stems
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus mature plant
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus narrowly oval leaves
  • Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus ready for winter

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Description

Tylecodon reticulatus subsp. reticulatus, from olden times commonly oukoe, is a sturdy succulent reaching heights to 60 cm. The thick, succulent stem may become 10 cm in diameter.

Another common name in Afrikaans is sifkop (sieve head), referring to the persistent old flower-stalks (and dehisced fruit husks) that form a mesh-covering of dry sticks over the succulent leaves that grow annually from branch-tips.

The calyces of the flowers also tend to remain on these stalks, becoming loose dry rings below the fruit husks that prevent them from dropping off. These little rings run up and down the stalks like beads or insects in the wind. This movement deters browsers, unfamiliar with beads, as a mouthful of angry ants would be widely unappetising to most. Unless you are an ant-eater and unlikely to browse.

The subspecies distribution is widespread from Namibia and Namaqualand where this specimen was photographed, to the Karoo and Little Karoo, as far as Graaff-Reinet and Willowmore.

The habitat is varied, semi-arid scrubveld and succulent Karoo. The plants grow in loam or clay soils. The subspecies is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Smith, et al, 1997; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; http://redlist.sanbi.org).

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Photographer
Judd Kirkel
Author
Ivan Latti
 
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