#kleinia

Kleinia anteuphorbium (Senecio anteuphorbium)

Senecio is one of the larger genera among the flowering plants, and there has long been debate about what should be included in it. Studies of the DNA of various species have supported the idea that smaller and more cohesive genera would make more sense, and many of the succulent species have now been moved into Kleinia or into Curio. Kleinia was first named as a genus back in 1754, and opinion has gone back and forth as to whether its species should be included in Senecio or kept apart, with the "apart" camp now gaining favor. Most of the species have succulent stems, often with lines than emanate from below the leaf-attachment points and run parallel down the side of the stem (see upper photo). The leaves may be succulent as well, as they are in the case of K. anteuphorbium, and these are deciduous (species in the newly-created genus Curio, in contrast, have succulent leaves that are not deciduous). Kleinia anteuphorbium comes from arid parts of Morocco, where it forms compact clumps of cylindrical stems that are leafless during the hot dry summer months. The flowers come mainly in the fall and winter, and like other Kleinia species they are clustered in a cup known as a capitulum.

Named after German naturalist, jurist, historian,  mathematician  and diplomat in service of Polish King August II the Strong, Dr. Jacob Theodor Klein (1685 – 1759).

The genus is closely related to Senecio, and most distinguished by the succulant stems and leaves. The 50 species are found from Morocco and the Canary Islands, through Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and South Asia to Indochina.

Blooms and fruits!

The Kleinia stapeliiformis I keep at Chocolati flowered!! Fun fact— these are weird succulent members of the daisy family Asteraceae.

One of the milkweeds I germinated last year Asclepias fascicularis also had its first bloom. Milkweeds like Hoyas all have very weird, fleshy, mostly-star-shaped flowers.

This plant has grown so much in 3 months!

Senecio kleinia (Kleinia neriifolia)

Some people consider Senecio and Kleinia as separate genera, while others put them all together in Senecio, so that is why 2 names are listed. In any case, this plant from the Canary Islands has succulent cylindrical stems which can grow to be 5 feet tall or more. The portion of the stem below the leaves has round scars where the old leaves were attached, and extending downward from each leaf-scar are 3 streaks that give the stems an interesting pattern. Such streaks may be found on the stems of a number of other Senecio species as well. Senecios are in the Daisy Family (Asteraceae).

Senecio kleinia (Kleinia neriifolia)

Some authors prefer to keep the genus Kleinia separate, while others favor including it in Senecio, so I have given both names. These belong to the huge Daisy Family (Asteraceae). The flowers of the plant pictured don’t look very daisy-like because they lack the “ray florets” around the outside (as with a sunflower or a coneflower or a marguerite). Senecio kleinia has very succulent stems with interesting markings, and it is native to the Canary Islands.