Callopsis is a small, monotypic genus of aroids (family Araceae, order Alismatales), containing a single accepted species, Callopsis volkensii. Like other members of Araceae, it produces a distinctive inflorescence: a white spathe surrounding a shorter yellow spadix, on which the male and female flowers sit close together, separated only by a brief interstice. Vegetatively, the plant is a low, creeping herb — it spreads by a creeping rhizome and bears simple, cordate-ovate (heart-shaped) leaves that are medium green and glabrous (hairless).
The genus is native to tropical East Africa, where it grows as an understorey plant in virgin (primary) forest at around 800 m elevation, principally in Kenya and Tanzania; unconfirmed reports also place it in Cameroon. Its taxonomic placement within Araceae and its monotypic status are corroborated by the GBIF backbone, which lists Callopsis with a single descendant species and confirms its family (Araceae) and order (Alismatales).
Because it comprises just one species, Callopsis volkensii effectively represents the genus as a whole, and there is little documented variation to describe beyond the species-level morphology summarized above.
Distribution
Callopsis occurs in tropical East Africa, growing at around 800 m elevation in virgin (primary) forest in Kenya and Tanzania; unconfirmed reports also place it in Cameroon.
Taxonomy Notes
Callopsis is monotypic, comprising only Callopsis volkensii. It belongs to family Araceae, order Alismatales, and is treated as an accepted genus in the GBIF backbone (numDescendants = 1), consistent with its description as monotypic.
