# Xiphotheca

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***Xiphotheca*** is a genus of [flowering plants](/source/Flowering_plant) in the [legume](/source/Legume) family, [Fabaceae](/source/Fabaceae). It includes 10 species of shrubs [endemic](/source/Endemic) to the [Cape Provinces](/source/Cape_Provinces) of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). They grow in [fynbos](/source/Fynbos) (Mediterranean-climate shrubland), generally at medium or low elevations, and often species have highly localised ranges.[1] The genus belongs to the subfamily [Faboideae](/source/Faboideae). The name of the genus is a compound of [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) [ξίφος](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%BE%CE%AF%CF%86%CE%BF%CF%82) (*ksíphos*), which means "sword", and [θήκη](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B8%CE%AE%CE%BA%CE%B7) (*thēkē*) which can mean "box" or "sheath"—a reference to the shape of the legume pods.[2] Members of this genus can be distinguished by:

"(1) the presence of [bracteoles](/source/Bracteole) in most species; (2) the fusion of the bracts with the base of the [pedicel](/source/Pedicel_(botany)); (3) the laterally compressed pods; and (4) the accumulation of [anabasine](/source/Anabasine) as a major [alkaloid](/source/Alkaloid)."[2]

## Species

*Xiphotheca* comprises the following species:[3][2][4]

### Section *Congestae*

- *[Xiphotheca fruticosa](/source/Xiphotheca_fruticosa)* (L.) A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk
- *[Xiphotheca guthriei](/source/Xiphotheca_guthriei)* (L. Bolus) A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk
- *[Xiphotheca lanceolata](/source/Xiphotheca_lanceolata)* (E. Mey.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
- *[Xiphotheca reflexa](/source/Xiphotheca_reflexa)* (Thunb.) A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk

### Section *Xiphotheca*

- *[Xiphotheca canescens](/source/Xiphotheca_canescens)* (Thunb.) A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk
- *[Xiphotheca cordifolia](/source/Xiphotheca_cordifolia)* A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk
- *[Xiphotheca elliptica](/source/Xiphotheca_elliptica)* (DC.) A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk
- *[Xiphotheca phylicoides](/source/Xiphotheca_phylicoides)* A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk

- *[Xiphotheca tecta](/source/Xiphotheca_tecta)* (Thunb.) A. L. Schutte & B.-E. van Wyk

## References

1. [[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:23831-1](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:23831-1) *[Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online)*. Retrieved 23 September 2023.

1. Schutte AL (1997). ["A revision of the genus *Xiphotheca* (Fabaceae)"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27280289). *[Ann Missouri Bot Gard](/source/Annals_of_the_Missouri_Botanical_Garden)*. **84** (1): 90–102. [doi:10.2307/2399955](https://doi.org/10.2307/2399955). [JSTOR 2399955](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2399955)

1. Schutte AL, ((Van Wyk B-E)) (1993). "The Reinstatement of the Genus *Xiphotheca* (Fabaceae)". *[Taxon](/source/Taxon_(journal))*. **41** (1): 43–49. [doi:10.2307/1223301](https://doi.org/10.2307/1223301). [JSTOR 1223301](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1223301)

1. USDA; ARS; National Genetic Resources Program. ["GRIN species records of *Xiphotheca*"](http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?12971). *[Germplasm Resources Information Network](/source/Germplasm_Resources_Information_Network)—(GRIN) [Online Database]*. [National Germplasm Resources Laboratory](/source/Henry_A._Wallace_Beltsville_Agricultural_Research_Center), Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved 28 February 2014.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Xiphotheca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphotheca) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphotheca?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.