''Curio talinoides'', syn. ''Senecio mandraliscae'', also known as blue straws, blue chalksticks, dassieharpuis, or narrow-leaf chalk sticks, is a succulent plant of the family

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae ...

that is native to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

. The origin of this plant is dubious and it may be a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

Description

The bluest of the curio plants, it is about 50 to 70 cm tall with 4.5-9.5 cm long leaves that are thickly and alternately arranged, jammed on the stems, and are set about 0.3-0.5 cm aside. The leaves are linear, rising, sickle shaped and would be narrow at both ends. Unlike the similar looking

Curio repens ''Curio repens'', syn. ''Senecio serpens'', is a species of the genus ''Curio'' in the Asteraceae family. A succulent endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa, it is typically found growing from crevices in rocky sandstone slopes. Co ...

, its leaves are much narrower and elongated. Curio repens is also easily distinguished by its shorter, often boat-shaped leaves. It is also easily confused with '' Curio ficoides'', which has a similar growth habit. However, the leaves of ''C. talinoides'' are rounded-cylindrical in cross section. In contrast, the leaves of ''C. ficoides'' are usually somewhat knife-like, flattened laterally.G.Rowley (1994). ''Succulent Compositae: A Grower's Guide to the Succulent Species of Senecio & Othonna''. Strawberry Press. , 9780912647128 A hybrid of this and 'repens', known as Senecio 'Trident Blue' exists.

Subspecies and cultivars

* ''Senecio talinoides'' (DC.) Sch.Bip.: (subsp. talinoides) has finer texture * ''Senecio talinoides subs. aizoides'' (DC.) G.D.Rowley: has 2-8 capitula per

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

* ''Senecio talinoides subs. chordifolius'' (Hook.f.) G.D.Rowley: has the longest leaves and is more droopy * ''Senecio talinoides f. cristatus'': has a crested form. * ''Senecio talinoides subs. cylindricus'' (A.Berger) G.D.Rowley: has cylindrical leaves * ''Senecio talinoides subs. mandraliscae'' (Tineo) G.D.Rowley: has short

spindle Spindle may refer to: Textiles and manufacturing * Spindle (textiles), a straight spike to spin fibers into yarn * Spindle (tool), a rotating axis of a machine tool Biology * Common spindle and other species of shrubs and trees in genus '' Euony ...

-like leaves 5–8 mm as long, later elongating.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q50840698, from2=Q15552898 talinoides Flora of Southern Africa Garden plants of Southern Africa Drought-tolerant plants