PETOPENTIA NATALENSIS

This member of the Periplocaceae* family was given this name by Arthur Allman Bollock in 1954. It's found in Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal in southern South Africa. It preferring a rich soil, lots of water and sun in the growing season. The caudex can grow at least to 30 centimetres in diameter, the vines can reach seven metres or more. As seen on the photos, the flowers are brown-maroon/ and white. It also possible to make cuttings.

The genera name is an anagram of Pentopetia, into which Petopentia natalensis was originally and erroneously placed. The species name as it is found in Natal, South Africa. This Genus has recently been under Asclepiadaceae, then classified under Periploceceae. *) Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Periplocaceae is now part of the Apocynaceae. Flower from Copenhagen Botanical Garden. These are wild ones from Oribi Gorge. This one is 30 centimetre in diameter! A large one from Copenhagen Botanical Garden. The caudex is 60-70 centimetres long, and 15 centimetres in diameter.