Malesherbia lactea is a perennial geophyte native to the La Rioja and San Juan regions of Argentina and the Antofagasta and Atacama regions of Chile.[1][2][3] It has ovate leaves that end in a sharp point.[2] Similar to other members of Malesherbia, the flowers are red and white, and tubular in shape.[2][4]
| Malesherbia lactea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Passifloraceae |
| Genus: | Malesherbia |
| Species: | M. lactea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Malesherbia lactea | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Malesherbia rosulata Werderm | |
There are two varieties of M. lactea, var. crassicaulis (Bull-Hereñu) and var. lactea.[1][4] Variety crassicaulis differs from var. lactea in its thicker and longer stem. It grows at lower altitudes (2700 m) than var. lactea (2500 – 4300 m) and is considered more robust.[4][5][6][3] Variety crassicaulis only grows in Atacama, while var. lactea grows throughout the native range of M. lactea.[5][6] It is hypothesized that var. lactea differs in ploidy level, though this has not been supported by molecular work.[4]
Variety crassicaulis was originally classified as Malesherbia rosulata.
References edit
- ^ a b "Malesherbia lactea Phil. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ a b c "Home". Alpine Garden Society. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ a b "Instituto de Botánica Darwinion". www.darwin.edu.ar. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ a b c d Bull-Hereñu, Kester (2020). "NOTAS ACERCA DE LA NUEVA CLASIFICACIÓN DE MALESHERBIA RUIZ & PAV.(PASSIFLORACEAE) PARA CHILE". Chloris Chilensis. 23 (2): 1–33 – via Research Gate.
- ^ a b "Malesherbia lactea Phil. var. lactea | catalogoplantas.udec.cl". catalogoplantas.udec.cl. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ a b "Malesherbia lactea Phil. var. crassicaulis Bull-Hereñu | catalogoplantas.udec.cl". catalogoplantas.udec.cl. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
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