Scientific Name
Adromischus marianiae 'Alveolatus'
Synonym(s)
Adromischus alveolatus, Adromischus marianiae f. alveolatus
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Kalanchoideae
Genus: Adromischus
Etymology
The cultivar name "Alveolatus" (pronounced "al-vee-oh-LAY-tus") means "having cavities or channels". It refers to the leaves of this cultivar, which have rough epidermis often covered by small alveoli or sometimes by tiny tubercles.
Origin
Adromischus marianiae 'Alveolatus' is a clone selected at the University of California Botanical Garden from a plant collected in Namaqualand, South Africa, specifically 8 miles north of Concordia on the road to Goodhouse. The original plant was collected by Harry Hall in 1952 and described as a separate species, Adromischus alveolatus, by John Hutchinson in 1954.
Description
Adromischus marianiae 'Alveolatus' is a small, sparingly branched succulent with tuberous roots and short, erect stems that bear chubby, horizontal to erect leaves with a roughened surface. The stems are rugose, pale tan-green or yellow-green, occasionally whitish. They can grow up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long and 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) in diameter. The leaves are whitish-green, unspotted, and reddish or brownish at the tips. They are obovate or lanceolate, longer than broad, shallowly channeled on the upper surface, measuring up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) long, 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide, and 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) thick.
The flowers are yellowish at the base, green above, maroon at the apex, and bright green inside. They are erect, tubular, and can reach a length of 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) and a diameter of 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). They appear in summer, usually spirally arranged on slender, sometimes zig-zag stalks that can grow up to 6.8 inches (17 cm) long.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Many species are easy to grow in any free-draining, gritty compost. Their compact habit allows a collection to be maintained in a small space, and they grow well on any sunny window ledge or the top shelf of the greenhouse. Water mostly from spring to fall, and let them dry out between waterings. Adromischus tolerates cool, frost-free conditions during the winter if kept dry. It is also well to keep water off the foliage during the winter. Mealybugs and vine weevils can be discouraged with a systemic insecticide.
Adromischus can be propagated from a single leaf, which should be placed against the side of the pot so that the stem end is just touching the compost. Some species shed their leaves readily, and although each leaf can form a new plant, growing a large specimen can be challenging. In other cases, leaves for propagation must be carefully detached with a sharp knife.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Adromischus.
Links
- Back to genus Adromischus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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