3.3. Cheiridopsis subgenus Aequifoliae H.E.K.Hartmann, Biblioth. Bot. 136: 59. 1983.

Type: C. denticulata (Haw.) N.E.Br.

Compact perennial shrubs. Leaves isophyllous, with subsequent pairs equal along stem; surface velvety, with no epidermal elevations formed above subhypodermal idioblasts; epidermal cells forming blunt papillae or trichomes, sheath always only partially enclosing the emerging leaf pair during dormancy. Flowers cream to yellow, rarely orange or red. Capsules on erect pedicels; top flat to centrally elevated, but never rounded, base funnel-shaped; valve wings reduced to awns; covering membranes undulate with low distal rims; closing bodies usually large, blocking at least ¾ of locule, seldom smaller, blocking at least ½ of locule. Seeds smooth.

Diagnostic characters and distribution: Cheiridopsis subgenus Aequifoliae is the smallest subgenus in Cheiridopsis, with eight species. The subgenus shares the isophyllous leaves (equal subsequent pairs) and erect pedicels with subgenus Odontophoroides but differs by the capsule tops that are flat or centrally elevated on the top (Figs 5, 7 I).

The subgenus has the most northern distribution extending from southern Namibia to Clanwilliam and eastwards to Pofadder, with two centres of diversity in the Springbok-Steinkopf Region and the Richtersveld (Fig. 6 D).

Recognized species: Cheiridopsis brownii Schick & Tisch., C. caroli-schmidtii (Dinter & A.Berger) N.E.Br., C. denticulata (Haw.) N.E.Br., C. excavata L.Bolus, C. herrei L.Bolus, C. robusta (Haw.) N.E.Br., C. vanzylii L.Bolus, C. verrucosa L.Bolus.