Kalanchoe Adanson (1763: 248)

Smith, Gideon F., 2024, An alternative subgeneric classification of Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Cotyledonoideae) globally: a nomenclatural and taxonomic review, with a new status for K. subg. Pubescentes, Phytotaxa 665 (3), pp. 201-220 : 206-207

Kalanchoe Adanson (1763: 248) .

Type:— Cotyledon laciniata Linnaeus (1753: 430) , currently accepted name Kalanchoe laciniata ( L.) Candolle (1802: t. 100), designated by Tölken (1985: 61).

Heterotypic synonyms [in chronological sequence]:— Vereia Andrews (1798 : t. 21); Bryophyllum Salisbury (1805 : t. 3); Physocalycium Vest (1820: 409) ; Baumgartenia Trattinnick (1821: 110 , 315, t. 59), nom. illeg.; Meristostylus Klotzsch (1861: 267) ; Kitchingia Baker (1881: 268) ; Geaya Costantin & Poisson (1908: 636) [the types of these names are given in Smith (2024c)]; × Bryokalanchoe Resende (1956: 241) [type not applicable because this is a condensed formula ( Turland et al. 2018: Note 1 under Art. H.9.1)].

Designation not validly published:—“ Crassuvia ” / “ Crassouvia ” Commerson, manuscript or in sched. name, nom. inval.

Notes:— Smith (2024c) provides additional information on the genus-rank synonymy of Kalanchoe , as well as on the sub genus-rank synonymy of the genus names included in the synonymy of Kalanchoe . All the various orthographical variants and typographical errors of the names Kalanchoe and Vereia are discussed in Smith (2024c: 239–243, 2024f: 22–24).

Description:—Perennial, variously multiannual, sometimes apparently monocarpic but often perennial through basal sprouts, biennial, more rarely with individual plants annual, smooth, waxy, or tomentose, succulent shrublets, subshrubs, or shrubs, rarely treelike, often sprouting basally or higher up, terrestrial or more rarely epiphytic or lithophytic. Roots flimsy, fibrous, rarely thickened, tuberous, or woody. Stems branched or unbranched, erect to spreading to leaning, succulent, often weak, herbaceous, brittle, sometimes woody throughout or only basally ± woody. Leaves opposite, decussate, sometimes alternate or whorled, rarely subrosulate, free or basally slightly fused to amplexicaul, succulent, smooth, waxy, or tomentose, persistent or deciduous, petiolate or sessile; blade usually flat, simple or 3- to 5- to many-foliolate, sometimes terete, often varying morphologically on one individual; margins entire or crenate, serrate, or dentate with small to large, harmless teeth, sometimes bulbiliferous. Inflorescences terminal, rarely axillary, one- to few- to many-flowered, corymbose, cymose, or paniculate, sometimes thyrsoid consisting of several dichasia, usually terminating in monochasia, sometimes bulbiliferous especially post-flowering, stem growing tip often gradually transitioning into peduncle with regular basal leaves, bract-like leaves higher up similar but much smaller. Flowers tetramerous, very rarely 5- to 8-merous, erect, spreading, or pendulous, usually brightly coloured, pedicellate; pedicels flimsy or sturdy, of constant diameter throughout or variously broadening towards calyx or inflorescence branch; calyx 4-partite, with sepals free or variously fused, sometimes very prominent and obscuring much of corolla tube; calyx tube inconspicuous or prominent, sometimes inflated with short lobes; corolla 4-partite, fused into short or long tube; corolla tube usually much longer than calyx and corolla lobes; corolla lobes erect to variously recurved or fully reflexed; stamens 8, in one or ± two inconspicuous or distinct whorls; filaments glabrous, inserted on corolla tube close to mouth, medially, or in lower ⅓; anthers included or exserted, sometimes with terminal ± spherical connective appendage (gland); carpels 4, free, somewhat connate especially lower down, apically abruptly constricted or gradually lengthening into style; styles filiform, shorter than or much longer than carpels; nectar scales 4, variously shaped, free. Seeds ellipsoid, abundant, very small, variously ridged, grooved, striated, rarely winged. Chromosome numbers: basic chromosome numbers (x) recorded as either 17, 18, or 20; haploid numbers (n) recorded as 17, 18, 20, and 51; diploid numbers (2 n) as 34 (diploid, where n = 17), 36 (diploid, where n = 18), 40 (diploid, where n = 20), 51 (triploid, where n = 17), 68 (tetraploid, where n = 17), 72 (tetraploid, where n = 18), 102 (hexaploid, where n = 17), and 140 (octoploid, where 2 n = ca. 140) (reviewed in Smith 2022a). Chromosome counts doubtfully reported are here excluded (see Table 1 in Smith 2022a: 158–162).