One of only two

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in its

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

, ''Calibanus hookeri'' is a member of the family

Asparagaceae Asparagaceae (), known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, '' Asparagus officinalis''. This family includes both ...

native to

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities. It is located in nor ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, which can easily be mistaken in the wild for a boulder overgrown with grass tufts.

Description

''Calibanus hookeri'' forms a large

caudex A caudex (: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695 In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most ...

which has been known to reach diameters and heights of up to 2.6 feet. Atop the caudex sprouts extremely narrow greyish-green leaves that look like grass. Each leaf

rosette Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to: Flower shaped designs * Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation * Rosette (design), a small flower design *hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms: ** R ...

grown from the caudex is believed to be a vegetatively produced independent plant which dies after fruiting to be replaced by a new one. Flower stalks grow to 2–3.3 feet tall with many branchings and bear tiny, greenish white flowers.

Cultivation

''Calibanus hookeri'' likes full sunlight and well drained and fertilized soils. Should be grown in a large and shallow container and should be kept outside in summer.

Gallery

File:Calibanus hookeri detail brightened.jpg, Closeup of leaves and caudex of Calibanus hookeri File:Calibanus hookeri bark brightened.jpg, Detail of corky bark of caudex of Calibanus hookeri

References

*The Complete Encyclopedia of Succulents by Zdenek Jezek and Libor Kunte. {{Taxonbar, from=Q1026737 Nolinoideae Caudiciform plants Taxa named by William Trelease