Kleinia neriifolia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
Tribe: | Senecioneae |
Genus: | Kleinia |
Species: | K. neriifolia |
Binomial name | |
Kleinia neriifolia Haw. |
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Native range of K. neriifolia. | |
Synonyms | |
Senecio kleinia Less. |
Senecio kleinia Less.
Kleinia neriifolia, known in Spanish as verode or berode, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is endemic to the Canary Islands. It was formerly named Senecio kleinia.
A succulent plant,Kleinia neriifolia has articulated branches (constrictions that make them look like rows of sausages) and thick, stubby, elongated leaves which rest directly on the main stem or branch without a petiole or footstalk. The leaves grow clustered in crowded circles at the tops of the branches. The trunk is about 1 m (3 ft) high, and the lanceolate leaves up to 12 cm (5 in) long. Fragrant grey white flowers appear at any time between March and October. The plant is deciduous, the leaves falling at the beginning of the dry season. As with most arid habitat plants, reproduction is by reseeding only.
Flowers
Leafless in the dry season
Eugenius Warming, 1909
Kleinia neriifolia grows abundantly in the Tabaibal-Cardonal zone or the arid, subtropical with steep and eroded substrates which are more pronounced and dominant in the eastern archipelago. The vegetation can be compared with that of the arid areas of Sudan, Ethiopia, Arabia and Iran and is typical of the steppe in the African continent.
The plant is used in gardens with dry conditions. The plant requires a minimum exposure of the sun. The minimum winter temperature it can endure is −2 °C (28 °F).
Kleinia neriifolia has been successfully cultivated as a houseplant and as landscaping. It is on a list of suggested fire safe landscaping.