Aichryson
Encyclopedia
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
, and one in Portugal
.
The species of Aichryson are not frost-resistant. They are related to Sempervivum, Jovibarba
, Greenovia, Aeonium
and Monanthes
, readily seen in their similar flowers.
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.
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 subspeies of A. pachycaulon were not each others closest relatives (monophyletic) and additional species may need to be erected after additional study.
Other species recognized by Nyffeler in Eggli 2004 are:
A recently named species is:
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, with a few in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, and one in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
The species of Aichryson are not frost-resistant. They are related to Sempervivum, Jovibarba
Jovibarba
Jovibarba is a small genus of three species of succulents in the family Crassulaceae, endemic to mountainous regions in the southeastern quadrant of Europe. The genus is closely related to Sempervivum. Some taxonomists classify it as a subgenus of Sempervivum...
, Greenovia, Aeonium
Aeonium
Aeonium is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae.The name comes from the ancient Greek "aionos" ....
and Monanthes
Monanthes
Monanthes is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the Crassulaceae family. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Salvage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with seven species occurring on this island. On...
, readily seen in their similar flowers.
Relationships
Recent phylogenentic studies of Crassulaceae indicate that Aichryson is closely related to MonanthesMonanthes
Monanthes is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the Crassulaceae family. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Salvage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with seven species occurring on this island. On...
and Aeonium
Aeonium
Aeonium is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae.The name comes from the ancient Greek "aionos" ....
(both genera are also largely endemic to the Canary Islands). Two other genera of Crassulaceae that have many-parted (polymerous) flowers (Sempervivum and Jovibarba
Jovibarba
Jovibarba is a small genus of three species of succulents in the family Crassulaceae, endemic to mountainous regions in the southeastern quadrant of Europe. The genus is closely related to Sempervivum. Some taxonomists classify it as a subgenus of Sempervivum...
) are not closely related to the three Canary Island genera.
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 subspeies of A. pachycaulon were not each others closest relatives (monophyletic) and additional species may need to be erected after additional study.
Species
- Aichryson bethencourtianum
- Aichryson bollei
- Aichryson divaricatum
- Aichryson laxum
- Aichryson palmense
- Aichryson porphyrogennetos
- Aichryson tortuosum (Gouty Houseleek)
- Aichryson villosum
Other species recognized by Nyffeler in Eggli 2004 are:
- Aichryson brevipetalum
- Aichryson dumosum
- Aichryson pachycaulon (five subspecies have been recognized)
- Aichryson parlatorei
- Aichryson punctatum
A recently named species is:
- Aichryson bitumosum