Avonia papyracea papyracea (Avonia papyracea papyracea)
Description
Avonia papyracea grows in full sun among quartz rocks together with Tanquana hilmari, Gibbaeum heathii, Bulbine mesembryanthotdes, Crassula nudicaulis, Crassula tecta, Sarcocaulon patersonii, Aloe variegata, and Glottiphyllum sp. The unique white scales reflect much of the light and act as sun-shades over the tiny leaves beneath. Plants are highly cryptic and well camouflaged. They resemble the quartzitic pebbles among which they are found in karroid veld. Whole plants have been fancifully compared to coral or bird droppings and have been regarded as mimicry plants, for long escaping the eyes of even the most attentive field workers. The population trend is stable
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Caryophyllales
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Family: Anacampserotaceae
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Genus: Avonia
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