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Pseudolithos is a genus of succulent flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae, indigenous to arid areas of Somalia, Yemen and Oman.
| Pseudolithos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pseudolithos migiurtinus plant in cultivation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae |
| Tribe: | Ceropegieae |
| Genus: | Pseudolithos P.R.O.Bally |
The plants were first described as a genus in 1965; the name "Pseudo-lithos" means "false-stone" and refers to their pebble-like appearance. It was originally proposed as Lithocaulon earlier in 1956, but this name was already in use for a genus of fossil algae.[1] All species in this genus are highly succulent, small in size, and exhibit tessellation on their stems' surface. Their small flowers appear on the spherical body's surface.[2][3]
- Species [4]
- Pseudolithos caput-viperae Lavranos - Somalia
- Pseudolithos cubiformis (P.R.O. Bally) P.R.O. Bally - N Somalia
- Pseudolithos dodsonianus (Lavranos) Bruyns & Meve - Somalia & Oman
- Pseudolithos gigas Dioli - Eastern Ethiopia
- Pseudolithos harardheranus Dioli - Somalia
- Pseudolithos horwoodii P.R.O. Bally & Lavranos - Somalia
- Pseudolithos mccoyi Lavranos - Yemen & Oman
- Pseudolithos migiurtinus (Chiov.) P.R.O. Bally - S + C Somalia
- Pseudolithos sphaericus (P.R.O. Bally) P.R.O. Bally - N Somalia
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Phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be monophyletic, and most closely related to the widespread Caralluma stapeliads of North Africa. Marginally more distantly related is a sister branch comprising the genera Echidnopsis and Rhytidocaulon.[5]
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