Cyphias is a genus of flowering plants in the bellflower family, native to Africa; and particularly South Africa. It has been placed in its own subfamily, Cyphioideae. It is closely related to the genus Lobelia.
Description:
Cyphias are small herbs with annual shoots from a subterranean, rounded to elongate, fleshy tuber. The tubers may be solitary or offsetting. The stems are characteristically twining, or sometimes erect. The leaves are alternate, usually small and cauline in the twining species, or rosette-forming. Flowers are zygomorphic and lobelia-like, white to pink or purplish, typically with darker markings at the mouth. Species in this genus have a bilabiate corolla; with 3 lobes on top and 2 below (as opposed to Lobelia, which has 2 lobes on top and 3 below)
Cyphias is found on sandy flats and slopes, often coastal from Namaqualand to the Cape Peninsula. It flowers July-September.
Habitat:
About 68 species are native to summer and winter rainfall areas of South Africa, north and eastward to Eritrea. The genus is especially diverse in South Africa.
Although they are not often met with in cultivation, Cyphias are a delightful addition to any geophyte collection with their delicate climbing stems and elegant flowers. They are not strong or aggressive plants and are well suited to small spaces. In containers they are long-lived (20+ years), persisting without any special care.
The cultivation of these plants is generally easy and straightforward. Species from winter rainfall areas require a cool, well-lit place to twine and ramble, followed by a dry summer dormancy. The summer growing Cyphias enjoy humid summers and should be kept moist while in growth; they need a dry winter rest. A suitable soil mix for these long-lived plants is low in organic material (10-20%), and mostly consists of drainage material such as pumice or scoria, with 10-20% sand as a stabilizer.
Thank you with all my heart for stopping by and looking at my post.
If you like what you see please click on the like button, share, and leave a comment.
Have a Blessed day
Coreen
PS. I am busy saving for a few upcoming Landscape Photography Trips to Scotland, and Namibia, a few road trips in the USA, including Route 66, and a few local National Parks and Botanical gardens in South Africa. The most important trip is honoring my promise to Dad to return to Scotland and capture the beautiful landscapes and Puffins. Your help to make these trips a reality would be much appreciated in today’s economy.
You must log in to post a comment.