''Aichryson dumosum'' is a critically endangered species of succulent plant of the family

Crassulaceae The Crassulaceae (, from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the crassulas, the stonecrops or the orpine family, are a diverse Family (biology), family of dicotyledon angiosperms primarily characterized by succulent leaves and a form of phot ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...

Description

''Aichryson dumosum'' is a

glandular A gland is a cell or an organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface. A gland may also function to remove unwanted substance ...

plant up to in height, with reddish purple branches. Flowers are in diagonal, most with 7 petals, in loose summits. Petals , lanceolate, bright golden yellow with a dorsal central rib.

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to one single locality on Calheta Municipality,

Madeira Island Madeira is a Portuguese island, and is the largest and most populous of the Madeira Archipelago. It has an area of , including Ilhéu de Agostinho, Ilhéu de São Lourenço, Ilhéu Mole (northwest). As of 2021, Madeira had a total population o ...

and is estimated to have around 50 to 250 individuals occupying only . It grows in crevices and sheltered areas typical for micro-habitats consisting of an agglomeration of rocks. It is mainly threatened by invasive species, trampling, fires, droughts and landslides.

References

dumosum Endemic flora of Madeira Plants described in 1864 Taxa named by Richard Thomas Lowe {{crassulaceae-stub