''Oscularia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of succulent

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Aizoaceae,

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the

Western Cape The Western Cape ( ; , ) is a provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the List of South African provinces by area, fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , an ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. It was previously included within the related genus ''

Lampranthus ''Lampranthus'' is a genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. Description The genus name ''"Lampranthus"'' means ''"shining-flowers"'' in Greek, and the species of this genus have unusually large, bright ...

'', but was split off as a separate genus, due to differences in its fruit and flower.

Description

The most superficially recognisable feature of the genus is the shape of the leaves, which are grey-green and waxy. They are triangular in cross-section (3 angled) and can be sickle, club or mouth shaped. The name ''"Oscularia"'' actually means ''"group of tiny mouths"'' in Latin, and refers to the appearance of the toothed leaves in some species. The stems are often red, and the leaves can become red too during times of drought. Abundant, almond-scented, daisy-like white or pink flowers appear throughout the summer.

Distribution

The species are restricted to the

Province,

, where they occur only in winter rainfall areas. Their habitat is typically rocky areas of sandstone. The species ''

Oscularia deltoides ''Oscularia deltoides'', the deltoid-leaved dewplant, ''dassievygie'' or ''sandsteenvygie'' is a species of Flower, flowering succulent plant, succulent plant in the fig-marigold family (biology), family Aizoaceae that is native plant, native to ...

'' is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.

List of species

* '' Oscularia alba'' * ''

Oscularia caulescens ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia cedarbergensis ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * '' Oscularia compressa'' * '' Oscularia comptonii'' * '' Oscularia copiosa'' * '' Oscularia cremnophila'' * ''

Oscularia deltata ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

'' * '' Oscularia excedens'' * '' Oscularia falciformis'' * ''

Oscularia guthrieae ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family (biology), family Aizoaceae, native plant, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lam ...

'' * ''

Oscularia lunata ''Oscularia lunata'' is a species of succulent flowering plant in the genus '' Oscularia''. It is endemic to the Fynbos region in the Western Cape The Western Cape ( ; , ) is a provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa, situated o ...

'' * ''

Oscularia major ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia ornata ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia paardebergensis ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia pedunculata ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia piquetbergensis ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia prasina ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia primiverna ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia steenbergensis ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia superans ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia thermarum ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * ''

Oscularia vernicolor ''Oscularia'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to semi-arid and rocky habitats in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was previously included within the related genus ''Lampranthus'', but was split off as ...

'' * '' Oscularia vredenburgensis''

References

Aizoaceae Aizoaceae genera {{Aizoaceae-stub