| Curio talinoides | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Curio |
| Species: |
C. talinoides
|
| Binomial name | |
| Curio talinoides P.V.Heath[1] | |
Curio talinoides, syn. Senecio mandraliscae, also known as blue straws, blue chalksticks, dassieharpuis, or narrow-leaf chalk sticks, is a succulent plant of the family Asteraceae that is native to South Africa.[2] The origin of this plant is dubious and it may be a hybrid.[3]
The bluest of the curio plants, it is about 50 to 70 cm tall with 4.5-9.5 cm long leaves that are thickly and alternately arranged, jammed on the stems, and are set about 0.3-0.5 cm aside. The leaves are linear, rising, sickle shaped and would be narrow at both ends.
Unlike the similar looking Curio repens, its leaves are much narrower and elongated.[4] Curio repens is also easily distinguished by its shorter, often boat-shaped leaves.[5] It is also easily confused with Curio ficoides, which has a similar growth habit. However, the leaves of C. talinoides are rounded-cylindrical in cross section. In contrast, the leaves of C. ficoides are usually somewhat knife-like, flattened laterally.[6]
A hybrid of this and 'repens', known as Senecio 'Trident Blue' exists.
| Curio talinoides |
|
|---|---|
| Senecio mandraliscae |
|
| Kleinia talinoides |
|
