Crassulaceae

Resumen. Con base en colecciones de la porción sur de la Sierra Madre Occidental, en los estados de Jalisco, Nayarit y Zacatecas, se describe Echeveria perezcalixii como nueva para la ciencia. Se le compara con E. fulgens, de la cual se distingue entre otros caracteres, por su hábito generalmente acaule, sus hojas pruinosas con márgenes hialinos y por sus pedicelos y sépalos de mayor longitud.

Abstract. Based on collections from the southern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental, in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, and Zacatecas, Echeveria perezcalixii is described as a new species. It is compared with E. fulgens, from which it differs by its acaulescent habit, pruinose leaves with hyaline margins, and longer pedicels and sepals.

Se propone Sedum perezdelarosae como una especie nueva, originaria del estado de Puebla, México. Pertenece a la sección Pachysedum, por su infloresc- encia lateral, hojas gruesas y flores amarillas. Aparentemente la especie más cercana es S. batallae, con la que comparte su diminuto tamaño y hábito agregado. Se dife- rencia de éste, por el mayor tamaño de la roseta y del tallo, forma de las hojas, largo de las inflorescencias y color de las flores.

Sedum perezdelarosae is proposed as a new species from the state of Puebla, Mexico. It belongs to section Pachysedum A. Berger because of its lateral inflorescence, thick leaves and yellow flowers. It seems to be closely related to S. batallae with which it shares its small size and densely aggregated habit. It differs from this species in the larger size of rosette and stem, leaf shape, inflorescences length and color of the corolla.

During the ongoing studies of the Crassulaceae family for the Flora of Veracruz (Mexico), we found two new species of Crassulaceae (Echeveria uxorium and Sedum jarocho), and eight new records for the state: Crassula connata var. connata, Echeveria bifida, E. coccinea, E. halbingeri, Sedum corynephyllum, S. ebrac- teatum, S. guatemalense, and Villadia patula. Data on the distribution and habitat of each species are given.

Se reporta el hallazgo de Sedum morganianum E. Walther (cola de borrego) en su estado silvestre. Esta especie fue descrita y nombrada a partir de material cultivado y a más de 70 años de su publicación, no se conocían plantas de origen silvestre. Se encontró en dos barrancas del municipio de Tenampa, en el centro de Veracruz, en el oriente de México, donde crece sobre paredes verticales de arenisca con bosque tropical caducifolio. Por su distribución conocida se piensa que se trata de un endemismo estrecho.

Echeveria yalmanantlanensis, a new species from eastern Sierra de Ma- nantlán, Biosphere Reserve, on the Jalisco-Colima border in western Mexico, is de- scribed and illustrated, and a table for comparison of morphologically related taxa is provided. This species belongs to series Valvatae, differing from the other members of the series by its acaulescent habit, shape and color of leaves and bracts, size of scape, bract pattern on scape, size and color of the corolla, habitat, and geographic distrib- ution. There is support for the hypotheses that this species is endemic to the calcar- eous massif Cerro Grande and is already in danger of extinction.

Se describe e ilustra Echeveria yalmanantlanensis, una especie nueva de la Sierra de Manantlán oriental, en los límites de los estados de Colima y Jalisco, occidente de México; se provee un cuadro comparativo para la identificación de ta- xones relacionados morfológicamente. Esta especie pertenece a la serie Valvatae, di- fiere de los otros dos miembros de la serie por su hábito acaulescente, forma y color de sus hojas y brácteas, tamaño del escapo, patrón de brácteas en el escapo, tamaño de la corola, color de sépalos y de corola, distribución geográfica y hábitat. Se apoyan las hipótesis de que esta especie es endémica del macizo calcáreo Cerro Grande y de que se encuentra en peligro de extinción.

Believed to be the first ever published record of any animal eating New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii) in Great Britain.  New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii) is  a very invasive alien species in Britain which has done severe ecological damage on numerous nature reserves. This article reports a possible natural control for New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii). It is also possibly identifies the causal agent for its spread.

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (syn. Bryophyllum pinnatum; family Crassulaceae) is a popular plant used in traditional medicine in many temperate regions of the world and particularly in South America. In Guyana, the leaves are traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic to treat coughs, ulcers, and sores. The purpose of this study was to implement a method for targeting and identifying molecules with antimicrobial activity, which could replace chemical preservatives in cosmetic applications. The leaves were extracted by a method based on pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), using different solvents. A study of antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity tests were performed to select the most interesting extract. To isolate one or more active molecules, the selected crude extract was fractionated by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) and then antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of each fraction were tested under the same procedure. The last step consisted of identifying the main compounds in the most active fraction by LC-MS/MS.

Urs Eggli and Leonard E. Newton’s E​tymological Dictionary of 
Succulent Plant Names (​EDSPN) is a great resource, but – of 
course – not exhaustive. In this article etymologies are given for 
several names in the family Crassulaceae not explained in the 
EDSPN. 

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri R. Hamet & H. Perrier (Crassulaceae) is a succulent species empirically used as a vaginal contraceptive as well as to heal genitourinary infections. A phytochemical study of leaf juice prepared from specimens collected in the flowering season resulted in the isolation of the new flavonoid quercetin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, as well as the already known 6-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl- 8-C-β-D-glucopyranosylapigenin (vicenin-2). The NMR spectra of this flavonoid at room temperature exhibited broad and duplicated signals, suggesting the existence of rotameric conformers, which was confirmed by coalescence of the signals at 40°C. The structural elucidation was based on 1H and 13C NMR (HMQC and HMBC) analyses and MS data. This is the first report of a C-glycosyl flavonoid (vicenin-2) in the Crassulaceae family. Additionally, this is the first study in which atropoisomerism has been shown for vicenin-2.

Pollen morphology of 28 species representing 9 genera viz., Bryophyllum, Kalanchoe, Pseudosedum, Rhodiola, Rosularia, Hylotelephium, Sedum, Tillaea and Orostachys of the family Crassulaceae from Pakistan has been studied by light and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains are usually free, radially symmetrical, isopolar, sub-oblate to oblatespheroidal, or prolate–spheroidal to subprolate often prolate and tricolporate. Tectum mostly striate-rugulate or sub-psilate rarely reticulate-rugulate. Significant variation is found in shape and exine ornamentation and on the basis these characters family has been divided into three pollen types’ viz., Rhodiola sinuata–type, Rosularia viguieri–type and Sedum hispanicum–type. Numerical analysis of based on pollen characters of 28 species was also carried out to determine the phylogenetic relationships of various genera and the species of the family Crassulaceae.

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamarck) Persoon (Crassulaceae) (air plant, miracle leaf) is popularly used to treat gastrointestinal disorders and wounds. Recently, the species was tested to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis with successful results. This medicinal activity was associated with the phenolic fraction of the plant. Blue light induces biosynthesis of phenolic compounds and many changes in anatomical characteristics. We studied the effects of supplementary blue light on the leaf morphology of in vitro K. pinnata. Plants cultured under white light (W plants) only and white light plus blue light (WB plants) show petioles with plain-convex section, amphistomatic leaf blades with simple epidermis, homogeneous mesophyll with densely packed cells, and a single collateral vascular bundle in the midrib. W plants have longer branches, a larger number of nodes per branch, and smaller leaves, whereas WB plant leaves have a thicker upper epidermis and mesophyll. Leaf fresh weight and leaf dry weight...

Kalanchoe laciniata(L.) DC.(Family: Crassulaceae), commonly known as ‘Christmastree plant’ has a long history of traditional medicinal uses. Traditionally, the plant is used for treating common cough and cold, wounds, inflammation, diabetes etc. Further, the plant is reported to contain cardiac glycosides. In spite of several important ethnopharmacological uses, the plant has not been much explored by the researchers so far.This review will inspire the future investigators for further screening of the plant to expedite the natural drug discovery

The aim of the research was to improve the growth and quality of plants of Euphorbia milii and Crassula ovata, using substrates with added zeolites and Effective microorganisms and assess whether there was the possibility of alleviate stress caused by the presence of NaCl. The experiment on Euphorbia and Crassula plant involved three theses: 1) soil; 2) soil with addition of chabazitic-zeolites; 3) soil with addition of chabazitic-zeolites and treated with EM microorganisms. The results showed that the use of zeolites and EM microorganisms increase the quality characteristics of Euphorbia milii and Crassula ovata under cultivation, in terms of plant growth, root development and mitigation of the stress caused by the presence of NaCl in the substrate.

Four infraspecific taxa in Mediterranean Sedum (S. eriocarpum subsp. apertiflorum 't Hart, subsp. orientale 't Hart, and subsp. spathulifolium 't Hart, and S. litoreum var. creticum 't Hart) were first invalidly published by Hart (1996) in Ot Sist. Bot. Dergisi 2(2), but later validated by Hart (2002) in Fl. Hellenica 2. The valid place and date of valid publication and the type is indicated for all four taxa.

Different organs of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum exhibit differing levels of CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism), identifiable by quantification of nocturnal malate accumulation. Shoots and also basal parts of young leaves were observed to accumulate high concentrations of malate. It was typically found in mature leaves and especially prominent in plants subjected to salt stress. Small amount of nocturnal malate accumulation was found in roots of M. crystallinum plants following age-dependent or salinity-triggered CAM. This is an indication that malate can be also stored in non-photosynthetic tissue. Measurements of catalase activity did not produce evidence of the correlation between activity of this enzyme and the level of malate accumulation in different organs of M. crystallinum although catalase activity also appeared to be dependent on the photoperiod. In all material collected at dusk catalase activity was greater than it was observed in the organs harvested at dawn.

Con base en ejemplares botánicos originarios del estado de Jalisco, México, se propone como especie nueva para la ciencia, describe e ilustra a Echeveria patriotica (Crassulaceae). Este taxon por llevar tallo, láminas foliares angostas en la base en forma de pseudopeciolo, inflorescencia paniculiforme con raquis alargado, con más de tres ramificaciones y corola cilíndrico-urceolada, de más de 13 mm de largo, se ubica en la serie Gibbiflorae (Baker) A. Berger. Del conjunto de especies involucradas en este grupo tiene más semejanza con E. grisea E. Walther, de la que difiere en el largo de los pedicelos, del cáliz y de la corola, que son más grandes en la nueva especie; además, se diferencian en el color de la flor y de los nectarios.

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (syn. Bryophyllum pinnatum; family Crassulaceae) is a popular plant used in traditional medicine in many temperate regions of the world and particularly in South America. In Guyana, the leaves are traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic to treat coughs, ulcers, and sores. The purpose of this study was to implement a method for targeting and identifying molecules with antimicrobial activity, which could replace chemical preservatives in cosmetic applications. The leaves were extracted by a method based on pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), using different solvents. A study of antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity tests were performed to select the most interesting extract. To isolate one or more active molecules, the selected crude extract was fractionated by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) and then antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of each fraction were tested under the same procedure. The last step consisted of i...

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of water extracts of Graptopetalum paraguayense (WGP, 4 g/d) on blood pressure, blood glucose level, and lipid profiles in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Participants with MS (n = 54) were randomly assigned to the placebo (n = 28) and WGP groups (n = 26), and the intervention was administered for 12 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose (FG), lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C)), and antioxidant enzymes activities (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were measured. Forty-two subjects completed the study (placebo, n = 19; WGP, n = 23). FG, SBP, and LDL-C levels were significantly lower and HDL-C level and antioxidant enzymes activities (CAT and SOD) were significantly higher after WGP supplementation. Blood pressure, FG, and lipid profil...

Flowers have evolved suites of traits that are associated with the attraction, reward and utiliza- tion of particular pollinator types. Specialization on particular pollinator functional group results in a particu- lar combination of floral traits with consequences on plant fitness through efficient pollen delivery and pollen receipt at the population and species level. The aim of this study was to describe the floral morphology, nectar production patterns, floral visitors and natural fruit set in a population of Echeveria rosea Lindley (Crassula- ceae) in central Veracruz, Mexico. The floral traits of Echeveria rosea correspond to the typical hummingbird pollination syndrome. The diurnal pattern of accumulated nectar (volume and amount of sugar) produced by the species corresponds to values reported for other hummingbird-pollinated species. Based on observations of foraging behavior, the Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lamprolaima rhami) seems to be a more effective pollinator than the White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis). Fruit set per plant was high under natural conditions in the studied population of E. rosea. These results corroborate the hypothesis that E. rosea has a specialized hummingbird-pollination system that results in high fruit set under natural conditions.