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ctenolepis

Scientific Name: Ctenolepis

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Ctenolepis

Ctenolepis is a genus of plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family.

Considerations for Pets

  • Ctenolepis garcinii is described as a "tender climber," which might be appealing to pets.
  • The plant is described as "roughly hairy", which may cause irritation if ingested.

Considerations for Children

  • Ctenolepis garcinii is described as a "tender climber," which might be appealing to children.
  • The plant is described as "roughly hairy", which may cause irritation if touched.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Cucurbitaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Class: Dicotyledoneae (also referred to as Dilleniidae)
  • Synonyms:
    • For Ctenolepis cerasiformis: Zehneria cerasiformis, Blastania cerasiformis, Blastania fimbristipula
    • For Ctenolepis garcinii: Blastania garcinii, Sicyos garcinii

Species

  • The Plant List recognizes 3 accepted species within the Ctenolepis genus; however, the text only explicitly names two:
    • Ctenolepis cerasiformis (Stocks) C.B. Clarke
    • Ctenolepis garcinii (Burm. fil.) Naud.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Ctenolepis species are found in the Old World tropics.
  • Ctenolepis garcinii specifically is found in South Africa (Transvaal) and grows on lake and river margins in woodland and wooded grassland on clay sandy-muddy soil, sometimes in shade, at altitudes of 0-1100 m.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Ctenolepis are described as perennial climbing herbs with annual stems.
  • Leaves are broadly ovate in outline, deeply palmately 3-5-lobed, and roughly hairy above and on the veins. They can grow to 5 x 6 cm, are ovate, acute, have a cordate base, are crenulate, and scabrous above with a petiole of up to 6 cm.
  • The plants have simple tendrils and stipule-like probracts that are subcircular, fimbriate-ciliate.
  • Flowers are unisexual and 2 mm across in male flowers.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The text mentions studies investigating the activity of leaf extracts of Ctenolepis garcinii.

Related Information

  • The South African National Biodiversity Institute is mentioned in relation to observations of Ctenolepis cerasiformis.
  • The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is referenced for information on Ctenolepis cerasiformis (TSN 506923).
  • The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K) herbarium holds specimens of Ctenolepis cerasiformis.
  • Fishbase.org contains information about Xenodexia ctenolepis.
  • The Plant List provides taxonomic information on Ctenolepis species.