Dudleya candida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dudleya candida | |
|---|---|
  Rosettes (top) and flowers (bottom) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Crassulaceae |
| Genus: | Dudleya |
| Species: | D. candida |
| Binomial name | |
| Dudleya candida | |
 | |
| Map of the Coronado Islands, where D. candida is endemic. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Synonymy
| |
Dudleya candida is a species of perennial succulent plant in the family Crassulaceae known by the common names Coronados liveforever[2] or chalk rose.[3][4] It is a rosette-forming, green to white-colored leaf succulent, and in bloom yellow flowers atop red stalks stand above the foliage. It has some visual similarities to the mainland Dudleya brittonii, and has found uses in horticulture as an ornamental plant. It is restricted to the Coronado Islands, an island group off of the extreme northern Baja California coast, visible from the United States.[2][5]
Beginning from the bottom, the caudex is 2.5 cm (1 in) to 5 cm (2 in) thick, and quickly branches into rounded mounds over (2 ft) in diameter, containing sometimes over 200 rosettes that are 7.6 cm (3 in) to 17 cm (7 in) in diameter. The foliage consists of 30 to 60 white, pulverulent leaves, that may have pink or reddish tips. The leaves are often widest at the base, 5 cm (2 in) to 10 cm (4 in) long, 1.2 cm (0.5 in) to 2.5 cm (1 in) wide, 3 mm (0.12 in) to 4.5 mm (0.18 in) thick.[6]
The peduncle is pink, 20 cm (8 in) to 45 cm (18 in) tall, 6 mm (0.25 in) to 9.3 mm (0.37 in) thick, with 12 to 20 horizontal bracts. The bracts are 3 cm (1.25 in) long, 1.9 cm (0.75 in) wide, and 3 mm (0.12 in) thick, tapering to a sharp point. The inflorescence branches several times, but stays fairly compact. The upright flowers are a pale yellow, 1.5 cm (0.62 in) long, and up to 6 mm (0.25 in) wide, suspended on 6 mm (0.25 in) to 1.2 cm (0.5 in) long pedicels.[6]
Dudleya candida flowers from May to early June.[6]
The plant bears a resemblance to another nearby relative, Dudleya brittonii. The plants may be distinguished by the fact that D. candida has a much smaller rosette and smaller flower heads, and also that brittonii has flowering branchlets emerging from the axils of the upper bracts.[6]
