Biology:Colpias
Colpias is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the figwort family. It has only one currently accepted species, Colpias mollis, native to South Africa. It secretes oils to attract specialised oil-collecting bees from the genus Rediviva.[1] It is also known by the name klipblom, meaning stone plant in Afrikaans.[2]
Description
Colpias mollis is a many-branched shrublet, with brittle branches, growing up to 200 mm high. The leaves and branches of Colpias mollis are covered with soft hairs. During spring the small plants produce showy clusters of white or yellow flowers with a sweet or clove-like scent.[2] It is confined to rock crevices, mostly in granite.[3][2] As they ripen the fruits move away from light to push the plant's seeds into suitable crevices.[4]
Taxonomy
The genus Colpias was created in 1836 by botanist George Bentham who credited Ernst Heinrich Friedrich Meyer. It was created with one species and no further species has been added to the genus.[5] Both are classified within the larger Scrophulariaceae family and the species has no subspecies or botanical synonyms.[6] Bentham described the new taxa from from a specimen collected, "On rocks near Zilverfontein in Namaqualand," by Johann Franz Drège.[7]
Names
The Botanical Latin genus name, Colpias, is derived from the Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos) meaning bosom or breast as a reference to the pair of pouches on the flowers. The plant is known by the common names rock flower or klipblom.[4]
Distribution
Colpias mollis is endemic to the Northern Cape. It is found from the Richtersveld to near Kamieskroon, Namaqualand and the Bokkeveld Mountains.[3]
Conservation status
Colpias mollis is classified as Least Concern as it is widespread and not in decline.[8]
References
- ↑ Buchmann, Stephen L. (1987). "The Ecology of Oil Flowers and their Bees". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 18: 343–369. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.18.110187.002015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Colpias mollis | PlantZAfrica". http://pza.sanbi.org/colpias-mollis.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Colpias mollis E.Mey. ex Benth.". http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000615194#citation2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Manning, John (2009). Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: over 1100 Photographs for Easy Identification. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Nature. p. 462. ISBN 978-1-77007-758-4. OCLC 423599056. https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetowild0000mann. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Colpias E.Mey. ex Benth." (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/37549-1.
- ↑ "Colpias mollis E.Mey. ex Benth." (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/801659-1.
- ↑ Bentham, George (1836). "Observations on Some New, or Little Known Genera and Species of Scrophulariaceae". Companion to the Botanical Magazine 2: 53. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34485554. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSANBI
Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry
 |  |
