SafePlants

Gisekia

Gisekia is a genus of flowering plants. One well-known species is Gisekia pharnaceoides.

Considerations for Pets

• Gisekia molluginoides is a small plant, reaching only 2.5-3.0 cm in length.
• Some Gisekia species are described as fleshy herbs.
• Leaves of Gisekia molluginoides are linear lanceolate to spathulate.

Considerations for Children

• Gisekia molluginoides is a small plant, reaching only 2.5-3.0 cm in length.
• Some Gisekia species are described as fleshy herbs.
• Leaves of Gisekia molluginoides are linear lanceolate to spathulate.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Gisekia L.
• Common Name: Gisekia, Sand Herbage, Oldmaid.
• Family: Gisekiaceae (formerly Molluginaceae or Aizoaceae)
• Order: Caryophyllales (Nelkenartigen)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms:
  • Gisechia (orthographic variant)
  • Gisekia africana var. cymosa
  • Gisekia africana var. pedunculata
  • Gisekia linearifolia Fenzl ex Moq. (ambiguous synonym)
  • Gisekia linearifolia Schum. &amp Thonn.
  • Gisekia molluginoides (Murray) Wight
  • Gisekia occulta (Forssk.) Schult.
  • Gisekia pharnaceoides var. congesta (Moq.) Oliv
• Basionym: Gisekia

Distribution and Habitat

• Gisekia is mainly found in Africa with extensions into southern Asia.
• Specifically, Gisekia pharnaceoides likely originated in tropical Africa and adjacent tropical Arabia, spreading to southern Africa and Asia.
• It is found in drier parts of Northern and Western India and the Deccan Peninsula.
• It is a common colonizer on disturbed grounds, from the coast to 900m in elevation.

Morphological Characteristics

• Gisekia molluginoides is a small plant, reaching 2.5-3.0 cm in length, with slender roots.
• Leaves are 0.8-4.0 cm long, linear lanceolate to spathulate, with raphides on the undersurface.
• Plants can be prostrate to ascending or erect, reaching 1.5-8 dm in height, and are typically glabrous.
• Stems can reach up to 60 cm, sometimes tinged pink.
• Leaves are variable.

Ecological Role

• Common colonizer on disturbed ground.

Quirky Facts

• The genus Gisekia was named in 1771 after Paul Dietrich Giseke (1741-1796), a German professor, botanist, and pupil of Linnaeus.
• The leaves of Gisekia molluginoides have raphides on the undersurface.

Further Information

• The Plant List: Includes information on accepted and unaccepted plant names.
• Linnaean Herbarium: Contains specimens of Gisekia.
• USF Herbarium: Holds specimens of Gisekia pharnacioides.
• Kew Databases: Search for information on specific Gisekia species.
• Discover Life: Provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Gisekia.