Graptopetalum

Rose

Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 296, fig. 55, plate 52. 1911 ,.

Etymology: Greek graptos, marked, and petalon, leaf, alluding to petals
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 227. Mentioned on page 147, 148, 149, 150, 172, 224, 226, 228.

Herbs [or shrubs], perennial, not viviparous, 2.5–3.5 dm, glabrous or papillose. Stems erect, branched or unbranched, succulent; floral stems annual, axillary, overtopping rosette, with scattered smaller leaves. Leaves persistent, in dense, basal rosettes, alternate, sessile, subclasping [narrowed] basally; blade cuneate- or rhombic-oblanceolate or -obovate, laminar or semiterete, 2–10 cm, succulent, base not spurred, margins entire; with [1] several veins entering margins. Inflorescences lateral, flat or paniculate cymes. Pedicels present. Flowers (fetid), erect, 5–8-merous; sepals distinct, ± alike in size; petals spreading or slightly reflexed from middle, connate basally, [mostly] pale yellow irregularly dotted and red-banded in distal 1/2; calyx and corolla not circumscissile in fruit; nectaries flabellate; stamens [as many] 2 times as many as sepals; filaments adnate to corolla base, (becoming reflexed); pistils erect, connate basally; ovary base narrowed; styles 2+ times shorter than ovaries. Fruits mostly erect. Seeds narrowly ovoid, finely grooved, papillose. x = 30–35.

Distribution

Ariz., Mexico.

Discussion

Species 15 (2 in the flora).

From cytological studies (C. H. Uhl 1970, 1992), Graptopetalum belongs to a large comparium with Echeveria, Lenophyllum, Villadia, and others, but not including Dudleya.

Key

1 Rosettes solitary or multiple, 7-16 cm diam.; leaf blades smooth, apex scarcely apiculate; flowering fall–winter; corollas 19-28 mm diam.; flowers mostly 5-merous; inflorescences paniculate cymes. Graptopetalum bartramii
1 Rosettes densely cespitose, 2-6(-10) cm diam.; leaf blades rough, apex with slender apiculum 1-3 mm; flowering late spring; corollas 14-21 mm diam.; flowers 5-8-merous; inflores- cences mostly flat cymes. Graptopetalum rusbyi