Dudleya

Short-leaved Dudleya
Short-Leaved Dudleya (Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. brevifolia) at Carmel Mountain, San Diego
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Dudleya
Britton & Rose
Species

Numerous, see text.

Dudleya is a genus of succulent perennials, consisting of about 45 species in southwest North America.

Many plants in the Dudleya genus were formerly classified as Echeveria.

The fleshy and glabrous leaves occur in basal rosettes, in colors generally ranging from green to gray. The inflorescences are on vertical or inclined stems up to a meter high, but usually much shorter, topped by a cyme with alternate leaf-like bracts. Both the petals and sepals of the small flowers are five in number and fused below. Five pistils, also fused below, have 10 stamens arranged around them.

Dudleya species are widespread in their range, typically found in rock outcroppings, cliff faces, or road cuts, where their leaves help them store water in a setting too dry for most types of plants. Most are small and inconspicuous when not in bloom.

The genus is named after William Russell Dudley, the first head of the botany department at Stanford University.

In horticulture, Dudleya should be planted at an angle. This allows accumulated water to drain from the nestlike center of the plant, thus preventing microbial decay.

Selected species

Munchkin dudleya
Dudleya gnoma

References

  1. ↑ Dodero, M. W. and M. G. Simpson. (2012). Dudleya crassifolia (Crassulaceae), a new species from northern Baja California, Mexico. Madroño 59(4) 223-229.

Further reading

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