Aichryson

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Aichryson
Aichryson punctatum.jpg
Aichryson punctatum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Aeonieae
Genus: Aichryson
Webb & Berthel.
Species

About 15; see text

Aichryson is a genus of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands, with a few in the Azores, Madeira and Morocco.

Contents

The species of Aichryson are not frost-resistant. They are related to Sempervivum, Jovibarba, Greenovia, Aeonium and Monanthes , readily seen in their similar flowers.

The genus name comes from a contraction of the Greek "aei" (always) and "chrysos" (gold). [1]

Several species are cultivated as ornamental plants. The hybrid cultivar Aichryson × aizoides var. domesticum 'Variegatum' is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Recent phylogenetic studies of Crassulaceae indicate that Aichryson is closely related to Monanthes and Aeonium (both genera are also largely endemic to the Canary Islands). Two other genera of Crassulaceae that have many-parted (polymerous) flowers ( Sempervivum and Jovibarba ) are not closely related to the three Canary Island genera. [4] [5] [6] [7]

On the Canary Islands, the center of species diversity seems to be the island of La Palma.

Relationships within Aichryson were investigated by Fairfield et al. (2004) [Plant Systematics and Evolution248: 71–83]. They found that the five subspecies of A. pachycaulon were not each other's closest relatives (monophyletic) and additional species may need to be erected after additional study.

Species

Other species recognized by Nyffeler in Eggli 2004 are:

Recently named species include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crassulaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

The Crassulaceae, also known as the stonecrop family or the orpine family, are a diverse family of dicotyledon flowering plants characterized by succulent leaves and a unique form of photosynthesis, known as Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Flowers generally have five floral parts. Crassulaceae are usually herbaceous but there are some subshrubs, and relatively few treelike or aquatic plants. Crassulaceae are a medium-sized monophyletic family in the core eudicots, among the order Saxifragales, whose diversity has made infrafamilial classification very difficult. The family includes approximately 1,400 species and 34–35 genera, depending on the circumscription of the genus Sedum, and distributed over three subfamilies. Members of the Crassulaceae are found worldwide, but mostly in the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa, typically in dry and/or cold areas where water may be scarce, although a few are aquatic.

<i>Kalanchoe</i> Genus of flowering plants in the stonecrop family

Kalanchoe, also written Kalanchöe or Kalanchoë, is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, mainly native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. A Kalanchoe species was one of the first plants to be sent into space, sent on a resupply to the Soviet Salyut 1 space station in 1979. The majority of kalanchoes require around 6–8 hours of sunlight a day; a few cannot tolerate this, and survive with bright, indirect sunlight to bright shade.

<i>Sempervivum</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae

Sempervivum is a genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, commonly known as houseleeks. Other common names include liveforever and hen and chicks, a name shared with plants of other genera as well. They are succulent perennials forming mats composed of tufted leaves in rosettes. In favourable conditions they spread rapidly via offsets, and several species are valued in cultivation as groundcover for dry, sunny locations.

<i>Aeonium</i> Genus of succulents

Aeonium, the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageless). While most of them are native to the Canary Islands, some are found in Madeira, Cape Verde, Morocco, in East Africa and Yemen.

<i>Monanthes</i> Genus of succulents

Monanthes is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with seven species occurring on this island. On Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, only M. laxiflora occurs. Monanthes is a rare example where a species re-colonizes the continent from an island, after their ancestors have colonized the island from the continent.

<i>Jovibarba</i> Genus of succulents

Jovibarba is a small genus of three species of succulent flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, endemic to mountainous regions in the southeastern quadrant of Europe. The genus is sometimes classified as a subgenus of Sempervivum, to which it is closely related. Jovibarba have pale-greenish-yellow or yellow actinomorphic flowers with about six petals, while Sempervivum have generally pinkish flowers with around twice as many petals, which open more widely than jovibarba flowers. The common name hen and chicks is applied to some Jovibarba species.

<i>Sedum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species, subsequently reduced to 400–500. They are leaf succulents found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, but extending into the southern hemisphere in Africa and South America. The plants vary from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have water-storing leaves. The flowers usually have five petals, seldom four or six. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. Various species formerly classified as Sedum are now in the segregate genera Hylotelephium and Rhodiola.

<i>Echeveria</i> Genus of succulents

Echeveria is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and northwestern South America.

<i>Sempervivum arachnoideum</i> Species of succulent

Sempervivum arachnoideum, the cobweb house-leek, is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae, native to European mountains, in the Alps, Apennines and Carpathians. Growing to 8 cm (3 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) wide, it is a rosette-forming succulent perennial, valued in cultivation for its ability to colonise hot, dry areas via offsets.

<i>Aeonium arboreum</i> Species of succulent

Aeonium arboreum, the tree aeonium, tree houseleek, or Irish rose, is a succulent, subtropical subshrub in the flowering plant family Crassulaceae.

<i>Hylotelephium telephium</i> Species of genus Hylotelephium, in the family Crassulaceae (stonecrop family)

Hylotelephium telephium, known as orpine, livelong, frog's-stomach, harping Johnny, life-everlasting, live-forever, midsummer-men, Orphan John and witch's moneybags, is a succulent perennial groundcover of the family Crassulaceae native to Eurasia. The flowers are held in dense heads and can be reddish or yellowish-white. A number of cultivars, often with purplish leaves, are grown in gardens as well as hybrids between this species and the related Hylotelephium spectabile (iceplant), especially the popular 'Herbstfreude'. Occasionally garden plants may escape and naturalise as has happened in parts of North America.

<i>Rosularia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Rosularia is a small genus of the family Crassulaceae. It includes about 28-35 species from Europe, the Himalayas, and northern Africa.

<i>Aeonium haworthii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae

Aeonium haworthii, also known as Haworth's aeonium or pinwheel, is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, as has the cultivar 'Variegatum'.

<i>Aeonium undulatum</i> Species of succulent

Aeonium undulatum is a succulent, evergreen flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is a subshrub, one of the larger species of Aeonium with an 8–12 inches (200–300 mm) rosette of bright, glossy green leaves often over a metre from the ground on a single, unbranched stem. Other rosettes do not branch off this stem (normally) but grow from the bottom, unlike most aeoniums. The plant is monocarpic so the flowering stem will die when after producing its yellow inflorescence, which is normally after about 5 years.

<i>Aeonium tabuliforme</i> Species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae endemic to Tenerife

Aeonium tabuliforme, the flat-topped aeonium or saucer plant, is a species of succulent plant in the family Crassulaceae, native and endemic to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It is low-growing, typically reaching about 5 cm high but up to 45 cm in diameter. It grows on moist, north-facing cliffs and ledges at low altitude. A mass of fleshy, hairy, bright green leaves in flat rosettes is produced on short unbranched stems, often on vertical surfaces. This species is short-lived and dies after flowering. Plants often take 3–4 years to flower, at which point they produce a tall (40–60 cm) raceme of yellow flowers.

<i>Sempervivum calcareum</i> Species of succulent

Sempervivium calcareum, the houseleek, is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, native to the southern Alps in Europe. An evergreen succulent perennial, it has a rosette with thick leaves that store water. The leaves are usually green with reddish-purple tips. This plant reproduces with asexual budding and monocarpic sexual reproduction.

<i>Sempervivum ciliosum</i> Species of succulent

Sempervivum ciliosum, the Teneriffe houseleek is a species of flowering plant in the succulent stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, native to the Balkans and Southeastern Europe. Despite a superficial resemblance, houseleeks are not closely related to the American cacti family. A colony-forming evergreen perennial plant, each individual rosette can grow to around 7.5 cm (3.0 in) high and wide, forming dense mats of up to 50 cm (20 in) wide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sempervivoideae</span> Largest of 3 subfamilies in the flowering plant family Crassulaceae

Sempervivoideae is the largest of three subfamilies in the Saxifragales family Crassulaceae, with about 20–30 genera with succulent leaves. Unlike the two smaller subfamilies, it is distributed in temperate climates. The largest genus in this subfamily is Sedum, with about 470 species.

<i>Aichryson <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> aizoides</i> Species of plant in the genus Aichryson

Aichryson × aizoides, youth-and-old-age, is a hybrid species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae, native to the Canary Islands. Its parents are Aichryson tortuosum × Aichryson punctatum. A succulent, its 'Variegatum' cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as a houseplant.

References

  1. Eggli, Urs; Newton, Leonard E. (2004). Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. p. 4. ISBN   978-3-540-00489-9 . Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  2. "Aichryson × aizoides var. domesticum 'Variegatum'". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. November 2018. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  4. Ham and 't Hart. (1998). American Journal of Botany, 85: 123–134
  5. Mort et al. (2001). American Journal of Botany, 88: 76–91
  6. Mes and 't Hart. (1996). Molecular Ecology, 5: 351–363
  7. Mort et al. (2002). Systematic Botany, 27: 271–288