''Pachyphytum oviferum'', the sugaralmond plant or moonstone, is a
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), ...
of plant in the genus ''
Pachyphytum
''Pachyphytum'' is a small genus of Succulent plant, succulents in the Sedum, stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, native to Mexico, where species can be found growing at elevations from above sea level. The generic name comes from the ancient Greek ...
''.
The meaning of the name ''Pachyphytum oviferum'' is ''thick plant bearing eggs''.
It comes from
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 ...
, in the rocky cliffs of the state of
San Luis Potosi at 1200 meters altitude.
Description
The leaves are
succulent
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
and egg-shaped, which gave its name to the species.
The stems (20 cm long, 1 cm thick) rise then fall with about 15 leaves. These leaves are 3 to 5 cm long, 1.8 to 3 cm wide and 8 to 17 mm thick.
Leaves are pale blue-green to bluish-purple, looking like a sugared almond confection.
The inflorescence consists of a 30 cm stem bearing scarlet, bell-shaped flowers.
References
Bibliography
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Crassulaceae
{{Crassulaceae-stub