Dudleya cymosa is a species complex of evergreen and deciduous succulent plants in the family Crassulaceae known by the common name: canyon liveforever.[1][2] It is a loosely defined polyphyletic[3] species with a diverse number of subspecies, varying highly in morphology, distribution, and habitat.[4]

Dudleya cymosa
The neotype for D. cymosa, an illustration by John Gilbert Baker

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Dudleya
Species:
D. cymosa
Binomial name
Dudleya cymosa
Synonyms

Echeveria cymosa

Description edit

It is a distinctive plant sending up erect red-orange stems from a gray-green basal rosette. The small yellowish-red thimble-shaped flowers top the stems in a cyme inflorescence. Some subspecies are considered threatened locally.

Subspecies edit

Recognized[5] Dudleya cymosa subspecies:

The subspecies marcescens[6] and ovatifolia[7] are federally listed as threatened species of the United States.

Butterfly habitat edit

Dudleya cymosa is the larval host plant for the Sonoran blue butterfly, Philotes sonorensis (Lycaenidae)

 
Basal rosette, erect stems, and inflorescences

Notes edit

  1. ^ New N. Amer. Crassul. 21. 1903 Sep
  2. ^ Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 3:21. 1903 Nov
  3. ^ Yost, J. M.; Bontrager, M.; McCabe, S. W.; Burton, D.; Simpson, M. G.; Kay, K. M.; Ritter, M. (2013). "Phylogenetic relationships and evolution in Dudleya (Crassulaceae)" (PDF). Systematic Botany. 38 (4): 1096–1104. doi:10.1600/036364413X674760. S2CID 15715233.
  4. ^ McCabe, Stephen Ward (26 September 2019). "Succulent Poaching, Conservation,and the Mainland Dudleyas". Youtube. CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  5. ^ "Dudleya cymosa". Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
  6. ^ USFWS. ssp. marcescens. Species Profile.
  7. ^ USFWS. ssp. ovatifolia. Species Profile.

References edit

External links edit