Cotyledon flanganii
C. flanaganii has finger like leaves
© Photo Jacquie Koutsoudis
Cotyledon flanaganii used to be called C. orbiculata var. flanaganii but was raised to species level because it was described earlier than the C. orbiculata variety.
It forms a shrub up to 1m tall with thin linear leaves that end in a point
It grows on valley sides of the Kei and Mzimvubu rivers in the Eastern Cape.
c. flanaganii leaves, the normal form
© Photo Jacquie Koutsoudis
Plant shape
C. flanaganii forms a small erect shrub with pale, woody stems and cluster of thin long leaves.
The leaves are in whorls of 3, linear, 6-9cm long and less than 1cm in diameter. They are , green to grey, have no petiole and end in a sharp point.
The leaves are hair-less.
C. flanaganii flowers.
© Photo Jacquie Koutsoudis
Flowers
The inflorescence is erect and about 40cm.
The corolla is 12-15mm long, red and the lobes are recurved. The flower is often covered in a whitish bloom
The stamens are slightly exerted and yellow in colour.
Variability
C. flanaganii has one described subspecies, which makes the type C. flanaganii ssp. flanaganii.
the flattened leaf end of the ssp. mzimvubuensis.
© Photo Jacquie Koutsoudis
C. flanaganii ssp. mzimvubuensis
Described by van Jaarsveld in 2019, this subspecies occurs along the slopes of the Mzimvubu and Msikaba rivers.
It differs from the type by the shape of its leaves being distinctly spathulate (flattened) with a red margin without distinct tip. The leaves are also slightly hairy and sticky, like some forms of C. campanulata.
Where
C. flanaganii is restricted to the valleys of the Kei, Mzimvubu and Msikaba rivers in the Eastern Cape.
More pics
C. flanaganii, in situ.