This is an article I was intending to save for publishing next year in
the Baltimore Areole but there has been so much interest in
getting more information on this genus, I am posting it here. This is for
Jerry Wright and his remarkable Uncarina collection at
The Great Petaluma Desert, as promised.
Uncarina is a genus of succulent caudiciforms you won't
find listed in Jacobsen. In fact, Jacobsen stated that this genus was of
no significance in cultivation. Boy, was he wrong! These attractive pachycaul
shrubs are attractive in leaf and especially when in
flowers and are destined to be the next fad plants especially for growing
outdoors in tropical climates. Their growth habit and
foliage resemble shrubby species of Uncarina but with attractive
large flowers. This is one of only two shrubby genera in a family of mostly
annual or perennial herbs. The other is Sesamothamnus of Africa.
The genus is unique among the Sesame family, Pedaliaceae, by being the
only one endemic to Madagascar. The genus now
boasts twelve species. Only one, the type species, Uncarina
grandidieri, is usually seen in cultivation. This is soon
to change
as several have been recently introduced by International Succulent Introductions
(ISI) and are becoming available through
such dealers as Arid Lands and Great Petaluma Desert.
Uncarina grandidieri is a most attractive
plant. The species is named in honor of Alfred Grandidier (1836-1921), an
intrepid
explorer and collector in Madagascar. The flower resembles a large Petunia
in form and are bright yellow with a dark throat,
as in the "Black Eyed Susan Vine" (Thunbergia alata).
The stems are stout and become thickened with age. They may
ultimately attain a height of 3 meters. The leaves resemble those of the
cotton plant (genus Gossypium) and are finely hairy.
They are sticky to the touch and yield a musty odor when rubbed. The leaves
are deciduous during the winter resting season.
The mature fruit resemble cockelburs and are wickedly spinescent with
star-like barbed prickles on long stalks. The fruit can be
monomorphic with barbed prickles only or dimorphic with unbarbed pointed
prickles together with the barbed ones. In some
species, the margin of the fruit expands into a broad wing.
Other species are finding their way into cultivation and are only now
becoming available commercially. Uncarina decaryi
is
also yellow flowered but is smaller than Uncarina grandidieri
and the leaves are deeply five lobed. Uncarina stellulifera
has pink flowers with purple lines and the leaves are oblong. U.leptocarpa
is the only white flowered species and they are also
unique by having a very long floral tube. It is not reported if they are
fragrant.
The Uncarinia roeoesliana is the smallest growing species
in the genus with stems to 2 meters tall and is probably the one
most amenable to pot culture. It has a spherical swollen epigeal (above
ground) caudex that adds much to its appeal as an
ornamental. It also has the smallest flowers in the genus. The species was
originally described having palmate lobed leaves and
there is now a second form in cultivation with unlobed cordate leaves.
It has been suggested that the genus name Uncarina was
named for the people of the Uncarina tribe who live in northern
Madagascar. It is also possible that the name is the diminuitive of Uncaria,
the earlier illegitimate name for the allied genus
Harpagophytum.
The genus Uncarina was originally described as a subgenus
of Harpagophytum. That genus is now restricted to two
non-succulent, creeping perennial species native to southern Africa. Harpagophytum
has earned the common name of
"Grapple Plant" because their fruit are heavily armed with stout
prickles.
Uncarina require a rather dry, frost-free environment to
thrive. They may be propagated from truncheons (stem cuttings) or
seeds. Seed is freely produced on hand pollinated plants. The mature fruits
must be handled with care as they are covered with
hooked prickles that can get caught on clothing and can penetrate skin.
The fruits should be carefully opened to remove the
seeds.
There are no hybrids reported in Uncarina. How long will it be before some enterprising grower starts producing them?
Uncarina species listed according to flower color.
Flowers pink: U.abbreviata, U.stellulifera
Flowers white with a yellow throat: U.leptocarpa
Flowers golden yellow throughout: U.leandrii, U.perrieri, U.roeoesliana, U.sakalava
Flowers golden yellow with a dark purple throat: U.decaryi, U.grandidieri,
U.leandrii var. rechbergeri, U.peltata,
U.platycarpa, U.turicana
LIST OF SPECIES
Uncarina (Baillion) Stapf in Engler & Prantl, Naturl. Pflanzenfam. 4, 3b: 261 (1895)
syn. Harpagophytum subgenus Uncarina Baillion, Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1 (84): 668 (1889)
___Uncarina section Homoharpago Ihlenfeldt & Straka, Zeitschr. Bot. 50 (2): 158 (1962)
U.stellulifera group fruit rounded and not winged.
(flowers pink with deeper veins, streaked with white at the throat; leaf
underside covered with non-glandular hairs with four
finger-like lobes)
Uncarina stellulifera Humbert, Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 210 (1962)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 11, fig. 1 (1971); Hardy &
Immelman, Fl. Pl. Afr. 48 (1): pl. 1899 (1984); Rauh,
Succ. and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 2: figs. 1009-1015 (1998)
U.grandidieri group fruit flattened and not winged.
1. Dwarf plants to 2 m tall with a globular epigeal caudex and few branches;
flower tube to 3 cm long and lobes rather
short…………………….…. …………….U.roeoesliana
- Plants shrubs without an epigeal caudex; flower tube longer than 4 cm and lobes prominent..2
2. Leaves pubescent on upper side; flowers with a dark throat…………….………...3
- Leaves glabrous, or nearly so, on upper side; flowers with a yellow throat….……6
3. Fruit spination monomorphic………………….……………...4
- Fruit spination dimorphic…………………………………..…5
4. Fruit with stalks of the prickles broad and flattened toward the base….. .U. peltata
- Fruit with stalks of the prickles narrow toward the base ……………….. U.turicana
5. Leaves usually deeply palmate lobed, lower surface silvery ………….. U.decaryi
- Leaves angular with shallow lobes, lower surface not silvery ……... U.grandidieri
6. Fruit spination monomorphic; corolla white…………...………….. U.leptocarpa
- Fruit spination dimorphic; corolla yellow……………..…….. 7
7. Fruit lacking spines on the margins; leaves shallowly lobed……………. U.perrieri
- Fruit with spines on the margins; leaves usually deeply palmate lobed .... U.sakalava
Uncarina decaryi Humbert, Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 210 (1962)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 13, fig. 2 (1971); Hardy &
Glen, Fl. Pl. Afr. 52 (1): pl. 2056 (1992) (form with
unlobed leaves); Rauh, Succ. and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 1: figs. 960-963 (1995)
as Uncarina peltata, 2: figs. 963-970, 975,
978 (1998)
ISI 2000-64 (HBG 85219) B. Rakotoarison s.n. near Ampanihy, Madagascar
(Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 72 (2): 102, fig.
51 (2000)) (ES 2976)
Uncarina grandidieri (Baillion) Ihlenfeldt & Straka, Zeitschr. Bot. 50 (2): 157 (1962)
syn. Harpagophytum grandidieri Baillion, Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1 (84): 669 (1889)
___Uncarina didieri Stapf in Engler & Prantl, Naturl. Pflanzenfam. 4, 3b: 261(1895) sphalm.
___Harpagophytum dimidatum Baillion, Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1 (84): 669 (1889)
___Uncarina dimidiata Ihlenfeldt & Straka, Zeitschr. Bot. 50 (2): 158 (1962)
illustrations: Humbert, Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 202, pl. 1.4-12 (1962);
Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 15, fig. 3 (1971); D.R.
Hunt, Curtis's Bot. Mag. 181 (2): tab. 715 (1976); Stirton, Fl. Pl. Afr.
47 (1/2): pl. 1852 (1982); Hardy, Aloe 21 (3-4):
68-69, illus. (1984); Rauh, Succ. and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 2: figs. 971-974,
976-977, 979-987 (1998)
ISI 98-65 (HBG 80654) Röösli & Hoffmann at Bezaha, Sakalaly,
Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 70 (2): 83, fig.
on cover (1998))
Uncarina leptocarpa (Decaisne) Ihlenfeldt & Straka, Zeitschr. Bot. 50 (2): 157 (1962)
syn. Harpagophytum leptocarpum Decaisne, Ann. Sc., Nat. Ser. 5 (3): 329 (1865)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 27, fig. 8 (1971); Rauh, Succ.
and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 2: figs. 993-1002 (1998);
Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 71 (2): 99, fig. 42 (1999))
ISI 98-66 (HBG 81867) Röösli & Rechberger in forest around
Morondava, Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 70 (2):
83-84 (1998))
Uncarina peltata (Baker) Stapf in Engler & Prantl, Naturl. Pflanzenfam. 4, 3b: 261(1895)
syn. Harpagophytum peltata Baker, Bot. Journ. Linn. Soc. 25: 341 (1890)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 17, fig. 4 (1971)
Uncarina perrieri Humbert, Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 211 (1962)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 21, fig. 5 (1971); Rauh, Succ.
and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 1: figs. 966-967 (1995) as
Uncarina sakalava; Cact. & Succ. Journ.
Amer. 71 (2): 99, fig. 43 (1999))
ISI 98-67 (HBG 81846) Röösli & Hoffmann (#20/96) NW of
Mahajanga, Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 70 (2):
84 (1998))
ISI 98-68 (HBG 80655) Röösli & Hoffmann at Soalala, Vilanandrona,
Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 70 (2): 84
(1998))
Uncarina roeoesliana Rauh, Kakt. U. A. Sukk. 47 (1): 15, illus. (1996)
illustrations: Rauh, Succ. and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 2: figs. 1003-1008 (1998)
ISI 99-62 (HBG 82612) Röösli & Hoffmann 8096, near Tolanaro
(Ft. Dauphin), Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer.
71 (2): 99 (1999))
The typical form of this species deep green five lobed palmate leaves with a red petiole.
There is a second form of this species in cultivation with bright green unlobed cordate leaves and green petioles.
Uncarina sakalava Humbert, Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 211 (1962)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 23, fig. 6, 25, fig. 7 (1971)
Uncarina turicana Lavranos, Kakt. U.A. Sukk. 50 (12): 317-319, illus. (1999)
ISI 2001-52 (HBG 85171) Röösli & Hoffmann 1298 S.of Manja,
Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 73 (2): 101
(2001))
U.abbreviata group fruit flattened and prominently winged.
1. Leaves shallowly lobed; fruit spination dimorphic; margin of fruit
wing not dentate; flowers pink
………………………………………………………..………….…U.abbreviata
- Leaves deeply lobed; fruit spination monomorphic with hooked spines
only; margin of fruit wing dentate; flowers
yellow……………………………………….2
2. Fruit 5-6 cm long and broad, wings 12-15 mm broad ……………..… U. platycarpa
- Fruit 4-5 cm long and not a broad, wings less than 12 mm broad …………….3
3. Flower throat yellow ……………..…………….…U. leandrii var. leandrii
- Flower throat purple ……….…….…………….…U. leandrii var. rechbergeri
Uncarina abbreviata (Baillion) Ihlenfeldt & Straka, Zeitschr. Bot. 50 (2): 158 (1962)
syn. Harpagophytum abbreviatum Baillion, Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1 (84): 670 (1889)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 29, fig. 9 (1971); Rauh, Succ. and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 2: figs. 958-962, 1014 (1998)
ISI 99-60 (HBG 82610) Röösli & Hoffmann 6397, N of Morondava,
Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 71 (2): 99,
fig. 40 (1999))
Uncarina leandrii Humbert, Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 212, pl. 1.1-3, 2.12 (1962)
illustrations: Humbert, Fl. Madag. 179e: 31, fig. 10 (1971); Rauh, Succ.
and Xeroph. Pl. Madag. 1: figs. 964-965 as
Uncarina aff. perrieri (1995), 2: figs. 988-992 (1998)
Uncarina leandrii var. rechbergeri Lavranos, Haseltonia 3: 86, figs. 2-6 (1995)
Uncarina platycarpa Lavranos, Haseltonia 3: 87-88, figs. 7-11 (1995)
Uncarina sp.
ISI 99-61 (HBG 82611) Röösli & Hoffmann 2197 at Mandritsara,
Madagascar (Cact. & Succ. Journ. Amer. 71 (2): 99, fig.
41 (1999)) (Uncarina ihlenfeldtii Lavranos, nom. prov.)
Everard, B. (1970) WILD FLOWERS OF THE WORLD. Rainbird Reference Books Ltd.
(Plate 71c: Uncarina grandidieri)
Hardy, D.S. (1984) Uncarina grandidieri (BAILL.) STAPF. Aloe 21 (3&4): 68-69, illus.
Hardy, D.S. (1987) MADAGASCAR - THE RESCUED ONES. Aloe 24 (2): 40-41, illus.
(Plates of Uncarina grandidieri & Uncarina stellulifera)
Hardy, D.S. & Immelman, K.L. (1984) Uncarina stellulifera. Flowering Plants of Africa 48 (1/2): Plate 1899.
Humbert, H. (1962) LES PEDALIACEES DE MADAGASCAR. Adansonia (ser. 2) 2 (2): 200-215, 3 pl.
Humbert, H. (1971) FLORE DE MADAGASCAR ET DES COMORES; FAMILLE PEDALIACEES
179e: 5-46, 13 figs.
Museum National D'Histore Naturelle .
Hunt, D.R. (1976) Uncarina grandidieri (BAILL.) STAPF. Curtis's Botanical Magazine 181: t.715.
Ihlenfeldt, H.D. & Hartmann, H. (1970) DEI GATTUNG Harpagophytum
(BURCH.) DC EX MEISSN.
(MONOGRAPHIE DER AFRIKANISCHEN PEDALIACAEA II). Mitt. Staatsinst. Allg.
Bot. Hamburg 13: 15-69, 12 abb.,
1 taf., 3 karte.
Ihlenfeldt, H. & Straka, H. (1962) UBER DIE MORPHOLOGIE UND ENTWICKLUNGSGESCHICHTE
DER
FRUCHTE VON Uncarina (BAILL.) STAPF (PEDALIACEAE). Zeitschrift fur Botanik
50 (2): 154-168, illus.
Jacobsen, H. (1974) LEXICON OF SUCCULENT PLANTS. Blandford Press Ltd.
Lavranos, J.J. (1995) TWO NEW TAXA IN Uncarina (PEDALIACEAE, MADAGASCAR)
Haseltonia 3: 83-88, 11
figs.
Lavranos, J.J. (1999) Uncarina TURICANA SPEC. NOV., EINE BEMERKENSWERTE
NEUE ART AUS
MDAGASKAR. Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 50 (12): 315-319, 6 figs.
Rauh, W. (1979) THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SUCCULENTS. Smithsonian Institution
Press. (Plate 56.8: Uncarina
decaryi)
Rauh, W. (1996) Uncarina ROEOESLIANA RAUH SPEC. NOV., EINE NEUE ART AUS
SUDWESTMADAGASKAR. Kakt. U. A. Sukk. 47 (1): 13-18, 1llus.
Rauh, W. (1995) SUCCULENT AND XEROPHYTIC PLANTS OF MADAGASCAR. Volume 1. Strawberry Press.
Rauh, W. (1998) SUCCULENT AND XEROPHYTIC PLANTS OF MADAGASCAR. Volume 2. Strawberry Press.
Rowley, G.D. (1987) CAUDICIFORM & PACHYCAUL SUCCULENTS. Strawberry Press.
(Plates 13.21 - 13.23 on p.217: Uncarina grandidieri)
Stirton, C.H. (1982) Uncarina grandidieri. Flowering Plants of Africa
47 (1/2): Plate 1852.
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