Gunniopsis

Gunniopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae. These plants are found in areas of inland Australia.[1]

Gunniopsis
Gunniopsis intermedia flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Aizooideae
Genus: Gunniopsis
Pax

Gunniopis comprises 14 species[2] that were once members of the genera Aizoon, Gunnia and Neogunnia.[3]

The name of the genus honours the botanist and politician Ronald Campbell Gunn. The genus was first formally described by the botanist Ferdinand Pax in 1889 in Engler and Prantl's work Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien.[1] The name is derived from the Greek word opsis meaning resembling which alludes to the resemblance of the genus to the genus Gunnia.[4]

Members of this genus are succulents with the habit of a small shrub or herb.[5]

The plants are widespread throughout the eremaean zones of Western Australia and South Australia with some species extending into the areas in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Found in arid areas the plants are often found in shrubland area with saline soils in and around salt lake systems. The shrub-like Gunniopsis quadrifida has the largest distribution of all the species.[3]

Species

The 14 recognised species belonging to the Gunniopsis genera[2] are listed below:

References
  1. "Gunniopsis Pax". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. "Results". The Plant List. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  3. R.J.Chinnock (1983). "The Australian Genus Gunniopsis Pa" (PDF). Journal of Adelaide Botanical Gardens. State Herbarium of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  4. "Gunniopsis calcarea (Aizoaceae) Yellow-flowered Pigface". Seeds of South Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. "Gunniopsis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
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