Succulent Sunday: Plants That Look Like Pebbles

Pachyphytum oviferum (left) and Graptopetalum amethystinum 

Look at these turquoise and pink pastels! These soft colors belong to a pair of living confectionary, species of Graptopetalum and Pachyphytum, which are members of Crassulaceae or the Stonecrop Family. They look almost edible, but these plants are treats for the eyes, not the mouth. Their thick leaves and soft stems evolved to store moisture as a hedge against drought and high daytime temperatures in their native Mexico. Part of the charm of these plants is the powdery (in botany, pruinose) coating on the leaves, which unfortunately is also easily smudged -- shown by the fingerprints on this G amethystinum.

Besides Pachyphytum and Graptopetalum, Mexico has several more genera of succulents which are all closely related, and are all capable of interbreeding or hybridizing: Echeveria, Sedum, and Cremnophila. Similar but more distant relatives include the common "Jade Plant", Crassula ovata, originally from South Africa and grown as a houseplant worldwide. 

MadProfessah says, "I just like them because they're pretty."

[This is the first guest post by Sentient Meat, known elsewhere on The Mad Professah Lectures as "The Other Half".]

Succulent Sunday: X Sedeveria 'Harry Butterfield'

X Sedeveria 'Harry Butterfield'

(The reason for the strange genus designation, X Sedeveria, is that this is a transgeneric [cross-genus] hybrid between the genus Sedum and Echeveria.)  

This hybrid [in the photo] is just starting to show its potential to grow into long chains which tip over and hang like an animal's tail. This is a cross between two classic Mexico members of the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae), Sedum morganianum andEcheveria derenbergii. It's nicknamed "Super Burro Tail" because it's fatter and more robust than its hybrid parent nicknamed "Burro Tail", Sedum morganianum.

Succulent Sunday: Cotyledon campanulata

Cotyledon campanulata

By popular demand, Succulent Sunday returns! Here's some information on this gorgeous specimen:

Tiny hairs glisten on pale-green fingers, each tipped with a red crease -- Cotyledon campanulata from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Tall flower stems shoot up in late spring from which yellow flowers hang like little bells, except the petals are splayed wide open (unlike its Cotyledon cousins).

From a recent paper, "The only other species possessing cylindrical to urceolate shaped flowers, C. campanulata, is sister to a grouping of four species (C. velutina, C. woodii, C. barbeyi, and two varieties of C. orbiculata) that all share an erect growth form. Cotyledon campanulata is a decumbent, dwarf shrub (up to 20 cm) with yellow flowers that, like C. cuneata, are viscid on the outside of the corolla. However, C. campanulata has smaller flowers and is much more narrowly distributed, present only in a small region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa."

Hat/tip to Sentient Meat

Succulent Sunday: Mammillaria Magnimamma

mammillaria magnimamma

Mammillaria magnimamma, also known as "Mexican pincushion" is actually a cactus. This is a flowering specimen on my deck.

This is what The Other Half (who is the succulent expert in the family) says about this plant:

To get a better feel for this native of Mexico (near Mexico City), notice the spines borne on tubercles typical of genusMammillaria, named for its mammillae or nipple-shaped protuberances. The tubercles are green with a characteristic pink blush, and in between them, you can observe classic tufts of white fuzz. Flower color varies in M. magnimamma -- this individual shows blooms in a typical magenta shade.

I just think it looks purty.

Succulent Sunday: Parodia magnifica

Parodia magnifica

For Succulent Sunday this week, we have a flowering specimen of Parodia magnifica (also known as Notocactus magnificus). It has a very beautiful, bright yellow flower.

Succulent Sunday: Astrophytum Capricorne

A flowering example of astrophytum capricorne.

Sunday Succulent: Astrophytum capricorne

Astrophytum capricorne

Today's Sunday Succulent is Astrophytum capricorne, not Astrophytum ornatum, which it can be mistaken for. My husband (the cactus and succulent expert) describes it as:

The skin of the cactus is patterned with fine, white tubercles which give it a rich texture, like exotic animal skin. The spines are long and curved. The flowers on this individual are lemon-yellow with a red throat.

Sunday Succulent: Echinopsis cinnabarina

Echinopsis cinnabarina

The Other Half has always been a big fan of succulents and cacti. Recently he has become a more serious afficionado, joining the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. This has made him a more knowledgeable collector of the plants. He tells me that the above is Echinopsis cinnabarina.

Featured Flora: Pink Beauty

Gymnocalycium denudatum 'Pink Beauty'

This small, dome-shaped cactus has flattened, spidery spines; no threat to anyone! This variety has pink flowers rather than the usual white. The Other Half purchased this one at Huntington Gardens Desert Collection by appointment.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

The Dracaena Bloomed!

Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig' in bloom

Look what I woke up to find in my living room this morning!