{{Short description|Genus of plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Francis Masson09.jpg |image_caption = ''Tridentea gemmiflora'' |display_parents = 2 |taxon = Tridentea |authority = Haw. }}
'''''Tridentea''''' is a genus of succulent plant in the family Apocynaceae, endemic to southern Africa.<ref>[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40018139?tab=subordinatetaxa Tropicos]</ref><ref>Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).</ref><ref>Leach, Leslie Charles. 1978. Transactions of the Rhodesia Scientific Association 59(1): 3-5</ref>
==Name and history== thumb|left|Stem specimen showing leaf remnants and flower stem ''Tridentea'' was first described as a genus in 1812, and its name refers to the three "teeth" on each interstaminal segment of its flower (''"tri-"'' = three; ''"dentis"'' = teeth). It was subsequently split, and the genus ''Tromotriche'' was created for the ten species which were separated.
==Description==
;Vegetative features ''Tridentea'' stems are typically smooth, soft and appear as roughly four-edged in cross section. The four angles are marked by rows of low tubercle mounds. In young growth, each tubercle bears a small splayed leaf-remnant. These fall off with time though. Each leaf remnant is always surrounded by several minute, fat hairs.
;Floral features ''Tridentea'' flowers are flattened, star-shaped, and usually brightly coloured. The most common colouring is a mixed mottling of greenish-yellow with purple. Their inside is usually densely papillate. Flowers appear on minute inflorescences, and each stem bears only one inflorescence, from the stem base.
;Species<ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Tridentea The Plant List, ''Tridentea'']</ref> {{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| # ''Tridentea aperta'' <small>(Masson) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea choanantha'' <small>(Lavranos & Harry Hall) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea dwequensis'' <small>(C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea gemmiflora'' <small>(Masson) Haw.</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea herrei'' <small>(Nel) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea jucunda'' <small>(N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea longii'' <small>(C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea longipes'' <small>(C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea marientalensis'' <small>(Nel) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea pachyrrhiza'' <small>(Dinter) L.C.Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea parvipuncta'' <small>(N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea peculiaris'' <small>(C.A. Lückh.) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea pedunculata'' <small>(Masson) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea ruschiana'' <small>(Dinter) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea umdausensis'' <small>(Nel) L.C. Leach</small> - southern Africa # ''Tridentea virescens'' <small>(N.E. Br.) L.C. Leach</small> }}
;formerly included ''Tridentea baylissii'', syn of ''Tromotriche baylissii''
==References== {{Commons category|Tridentea}} {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7841404}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Tridentea Category:Apocynaceae genera Category:Flora of Southern Africa Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
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