ECHEVERIA LISTINGS G H-I-J-K

By James E. Low

GIBBIFLORA, (De Candolle, 1828), east-central Mexico (originally found by Sesse and Mocino expedition of 1787-1803, Morelos, Mex. growing on lava), first placed in old Walther series 2 (the Secundae), sp. #58, p.205, changed by Uhl in Haseltonia #3 where it was moved into his new series called “Gibbiflorae”, now the new Series 5 of same name in Lexicon of 2003. The Latin name means “humped flower”, pub. in Prodromus, 1828, III:401. (read Uhl in Amer. Journ. Bot. May 1992, p.561 for historical interest). See 1790 painting that was used as cover of CSSA Journ. of Nov. 1999 with Moran’s text page 301 and drawing of Fig. 1. Cytology: n=27 or 54. Main stems to 30 cm tall, rarely branching, large leaves, reddish to green, a bit glaucous, inflorescence cymose to one meter tall, flowers pink and glaucous. Note: this species is mother to many fine hybrids and cultivars. The basic species is for the form seen around Mexico City. Some of the popular cultivars may or may not be found in nature, or may be of hort. origin. Three of these are so famous that Kimnach chose to list them and their old names separately in the 2003 Lexicon (see below) [cultivars are always listed in single quotes, in non-italics, and first letter must be capital].
=*Ech. gibbiflora [De Candolle, 1828], current for type-species.
=Ech. grandifolia [Haworth, 1828], obs. (a true form, but not a species)
=Ech. campanulata [Kunze, 1843], obs. (another true form, but not a species)
+*Cultivar ‘Carunculata’ [Kimnach, 1998], current, the blister-leafed cultivar with pinkish leaves. Now a Valid name in Lexicon 2003, but only as a cultivar: this cultivar of uncertain origin but probably derived from an older one ‘Metallica’: 3 older names of this form were;
=Ech. gibbiflora var. metallica carunculata [van Laren, 1932], obs.
=Ech. carunculata hort. [van Laren, 1972], obs.
=Ech. grandifolia ‘Blister Leaf’ [Walther, 1972], obs.
+*Cultivar ‘Metallica’ [Kimnach, 1998], current, the one with huge, purplish leaves with glaucous green margin. Note that the famous cultivar “Pearl of Nurenberg” is a hybrid between this and Ech. potosina (now elegans) that was created in the 1930s by Graeser, and is still popular. ‘Metallica’ had 3 old names listed below:
=Ech. metallica [Lemaire, 1863], obs.
=Cotyledon gibbiflora var. metallica [Baker, 1869], obs.
=Ech. gibbiflora var. metallica [Morren, 1874], obs.
+*Cultivar ‘Violescens’ [Kimnach, 1998], current, a form possibly from nature but habitat unknown, considered to be a full different species by Walther due to floral details, but now combined as just another cultivar by Kimnach in CSJA 70(6): 300, 1998. Cytology; n=54 only.
=Ech. violescens [Walther, 1958], obs.

GIGANTEA (Rose & Purpus, 1910), E. Cent, to SW Mexico in states of Puebla to Oaxaca at 8000 ft. alt., (name means “huge”). First placed in Walther series 2, #55, p.197, pub. in Contributions to the US Nat. Herbarium, 1910, 13:46; t. 1214. Field number Purpus-414. Now in new Series 5 (Gibbiflorae) in 2003 Lexicon; cytology: n=54. Leaves large, green with purplish margins, sometimes a bit crenulate. Inflorescence cymose, 1 to 2 meters tall, flowers rose red. (See BW photo of cultivar ‘Scott Haselton’ in CSJA, Mar. ’76, p. 66). This wild species was a favorite parent to many useful selections & hybrids, especially by Butterfield & Wright and sold under such names as ‘Alta May’, ‘Arlie Wright’, ‘Chantilly’, ‘Cameo’,’ Dick Wright’ & ‘Paul Bunyan’. Leaf crenulations are considered attractive, so some were selected to increase this feature to best advantage.
=*Ech. gigantea [Rose & Purpus, 1910], current.

GILVA (Walther, 1935), a hybrid (Uhl thinks with Ech. agavoides), Walther placed it in his series 2, #50, p.116, (fig. 55, p.116), but in new 2003 Lexicon it is not placed in any series due to its hybrid nature. Name means “pale yellow”; (chromosome counts not practical in hybrids), pub. CSSA Journ. 1935, 7:61. See Haseltonia #4 of 1996, p. 80; (Uhl had it for a while in his revised Series Urceolatae), and Uhl listed its cytology as: n=(irregular). Leaves thick, oblong and amber in color, flowers pink. This is still offered in nurseries as it can be an attractive plant.
=*Ech. X gilva [Walther, 1935], current.

glauca (Baker, 1869; Morren 1874), probably combined into Ech. pumila earlier, and that later combined into Ech. secunda, so these 2 names (glauca & pumila) now obsolete. See secunda for some details, then see pumila in this listing for more details on forms. In 2003 Lexicon it is listed submerged into Ech. secunda.
=*Ech. secunda [Booth, 1838], current.

GLOBULIFLORA (Walther, 1959), SW Mex. State of Oaxaca, 5000 ft., (name refers to the “balled flower”), pub. in CSSA Journ., 1959, 31:24; in new 2003 Lexicon listed in new Series 8 (Nudae), n=42 (tetraploid), stems to 10 cm or more, rarely offsetting, leaves green lined with red, inflorescences cymose, flowers orange-red. First collected by MacDougall as his B-79.
=*Ech. globuliflora [Walther, 1959], current.

GLOBULOSA (Moran, 1966), SW Mex. state of Oaxaca growing at 2700 to 3000 meters, (name means “balled” plant), first collected by MacDougall as his B-235, pub. CSSA Journ. '66, 38:12-14; First listed in Series Secundae, but later changed to Ser. Ciliatae, and now in 2003 Lexicon it is in new series 3 of same name. See Haseltonia #5, p.22, cytology: n=24; an attractive, small species described as “dainty”, freely branching, leaves glaucous with red markings, infl. is a short cincinnus, flowers pink with yellow tips. This species said to be allied to Ech. derengergii.
=*Ech. globulosa [Moran, 1966] current.

To read Reid Moran's description of this plant, click here

goldiana (Walther, 1959), E. Cent. Mexico in Fed. Dist.Valley de Bravo, Walther series 2, #21, p. 117, (fig. 56, p.118), pub. in Mex. C&S Journ. '59, 4:27, (honors Dudley Gold who later said he had no knowledge of it!), Uhl calls it a doubtful species and he had no plant to test (so n=?), see Haseltonia #4 of 1996 on p. 80,; Kimnach decided in the new 2003 Lexicon to combine it into Ech. halbingeri.
=Ech. goldiana [Walther, 1959], obs.
=*Ech. halbingeri var. goldiana [ (E. Walther) Kimnach], Haseltonia 5,1998, current.

GOLDMANII (Rose, 1905), S. Mex., Chiapas state; pub. in North American Flora, 1905, XXIII:17, (name honors E. A. Goldman of Mexico, an early plant collector who is credited with finding this one), now listed in the new 2003 Lexicon as being in the new Series 8 (Nudae), but no cytology count given, thus: n=? a branching plant, leaves glossy green with red markings, infl. a medium spike, flowers rose to scarlet-red.
=*Ech. goldmanii [Rose, 1905], current.

gormanii (Nelson & Macbr.,1913?), not an Echeveria, now;
= *Sedum laxum (Howell, 1884). Current.

GRACILIS (Rose & Walther, 1935), E. Cent. Mex. to SW, states of Puebla to Oaxaca, (name means “thin or tall”), now listed in 2003 Lexicon in new series 8 (Nudae), cytology: n=24 in AJB of 1982, p. 846 and same in 2003 Lexicon. A branching species with leaves green, slightly glaucous, the infl. is a raceme 13 to 26 cm tall, flowers red and orange. The plant Rose described was from Walther, but of unknown origin, and recent attempts to clarify this in the field are only somewhat successful. Rose published it in the CSJA 7:40, ’35. Related to E. nuda & E. guatemalensis.
=*Ech. gracilis [Rose & Walther, 1935] current.

grandifolia (Haworth, 1828), E. Cent. Mex. to Michoacan, means “large leafed”, Walther series 2, #59, p. 207, pub. in Taylor's Phil. Mag. 1828, IV:262.
=Ech. grandifolia [Haworth, 1828], obs.
=Ech. campanulata [Kuntze, 1843], obs.
=*Ech. gibbiflora [De Candolle, 1828], current.

GRISEA (Walther, 1938), W. Mexico in states of Guerrero & Michoacan, growing on lava; name means “grayish”, first listed in old Walther series 2, #49, n=27 in AJB of 1983, p. 846; now in new Series 5 (Gibbiflorae) in 2003 Lexicon, cytology: n-27. Thick stem 10 or more cm long, usually unbranched, rosettes 15 cm, leaves grey-green, a bit pruinose (frosted), inflorescence cymose to 50 cm tall, flowers flesh-pink.
=Ech. campanulata non Kuntze, (Poellnitz, 19??) obs. [not listed 2003].
=*Ech. grisea (Walther, 1930).

GUATEMALENSIS (Rose, 1909), of Central America: Guatemala, Honduras, & Nicaragua at 3000 m alt., sometimes (usually?) epiphytic growing on trees or rocks, pub. in Contr. US Nat. Herb. 1909, XII:395, name means “of Guatemala”, cytology: n=26, listed in 2003 Lexicon in new Series 8 (Nudae), said to grow as a “small shrub” to 25 cm tall, the leaves not in rosettes, but scattered on stems, green turning red in sun, the infl. are racemes 15 to 20 cm; the flowers rose with yellow margins.
=*Ech. guatemalensis [Rose, 1909] current.

HALBINGERI (Walther, 1958), E. Cent. Mexico states of Hidalgo & Querataro on sandstone at 3000 ft. elev., name honors Sr. Christian Halbinger of Mexico City (a then well-known collector); this sp. was in Walther series 2 (Secundae), sp. #22, p.120 but now moved to Uhl’s revised Series (Urceolatae), pub. In CSSA Journ. 1958, 30:89, discussed by Uhl in Haseltonia #4 of 1996 on p. 81, and in new 2003 Lexicon it is placed in new Series 16 (Urbiniae). The chr. number is given as n=62 (see in AJB of 1982, p. 846), and given as 32 or 62 in 2003 Lexicon, but this is specific to variety (note below), and flower color also variety-specific as noted, leaves usually plain green, infl. a cincinnus. This species will be one of the following 3 now recognized varieties:
=*Ech. halbingeri [Walther, 1958], current.
+*var. goldiana (Kimnach, 1998), current. (Comb. Nova in Haseltonia #5, 1998, p. 51, & same in 2003 Lexicon, may no longer exist in nature). It differs from others in some details, rarely branching, and flower color (rose with yellow tips), and chromosome count unknown: n=?, leaves green. One older name:
=Ech. goldiana [Walther, 1959], obs. via above comb.
+*var. halbingeri [Walther, 1958], base stem tiny, freely branching, leaves glaucous-green; infl. a medium cincinnus, flowers: petals tiny, reddish-orange to yellowish, petal tips strongly recurved, n=62 only. No old names.
+*var. sanchez-mejoradae (Walther 1972; Kimnach, 1998), current. (Comb. Nova; also in Haseltonia #5, p. 51: 1998, and same in new Lexicon). Specifics: freely branching, leaves plain green, flowers pink with green tips petals not recurved, chromosome count n=32 only. Name honors a well known Mexican cactus botanist. One old name:
=Ech. sanchez-mejoradae (Walther,1972), obs.

HARMSII (Macbride, 1931) Possibly from Oaxaca, but unknown in the wild to this day; originally found in cultivation near Mexico City by J. N. Rose & Hay in 1901; pub. in Field Museum Bot. Ser., 1931. XI:1:22, First listed in old series 13, but now shown in new Series 4 (Echeveria) in 2003 Lexicon, cytology: n=19. This is a fine, fuzzy-leaved species with showy flowers, long popular, and much used in hybridizing. (All names that include the name ‘elegans’ had to be dropped as an unrelated Echeveria already had that name and its publication was valid). When first found no other Ech. had hairy leaves, so this plant seemed to be unique. Rose was impressed. He decided that it was so different that he had to create a new genus, thus the odd names seen below. Later, of course, several other hairy types were found, and their place became more clear: they were really all Echeverias, but with hairs, so it was moved into that genus in 1931. For a while it was even called the “Hairy Echeveria”. The minute, but dense hairs covered leaves, stems, and even sepals, and were considered a part of its attraction. Below the hairs the leaves are green, sometimes accented with reddish markings. The inflorescence is a short raceme, and the few flowers are large and bright scarlet with yellow margins. Plants are of easy culture, and free flowering. Still popular in collections.
=Oliverella elegans [Rose, 1903], obs.
=Cotyledon elegans, [Brown, 1905], obs.
=Oliveranthus elegans [Berger, 1930], obs.
=*Ech. harmsii [Macbride, 1931], current.

HELMUTIANA (Kimnach, 1995), SW Mex. Oaxaca state at 7700 ft. elev.; pub. in CSSA Journ. Mar. 1995, p. 80 (name honors Helmut Regnat of Munich, Ger. who aided Kimnach with plant records searches in European libraries) Note: in 1996 all of the few plants then in cultivation were lost to a hot-dry spell and lack of care during this dry spell in Kimnach’s back yard as he was away on business. During his next trip to Mexico Kimnach searched for more of these plants, but their only native habitat had already been cleared for farming with the loss of all plants there: this sp. may be now lost just a year after its discovery. It may now be totally extinct due to acts of mankind! This species belongs in Series Racemosae now called Series 12 in 2003 Lexicon. The cytology is unknown as species was so new that no plants had yet been tested, thus: n=? This species did not seem to offset. The leaves start as olive green to almost red, and all leaves turning to bright red under cold, dry conditions at which time this became a spectacular plant. The inflorescences are racemes 45 to 65 cm tall, flowers orange. Late news: Some of these plants have been rediscovered in the wild in 2006! Now this species may be placed into cultivation in time, and maybe be made available to the public in time, but propagation is known to be difficult.
=*Ech. helmutiana [Kimnach, 1995], current.

HETEROSEPALA (Rose, 1903), E. Cent. Mexico in Puebla to Oaxaca states at 2600 M. alt., name refers to large sepals (‘hetero’ means different), pub. in Bulletin NY Bot. Gard., 1903, III:8, flowers are borne in a raceme; first placed in old series Pruinosae, but now in new Series 12 (Racemosae) in 2003 Lexicon; n=13, see Haseltonia #5, p. 33. Leaves grey-green; infl. a cincinnus to 50 cm or more tall, flowers greenish turning reddish. This species presented difficulty to classifiers because the flowers had an internal appendage like true Pachyphytums, thus it was first placed in that genus. In nature it grows in flat, arid land more like a desert than the habitats of other Echeverias. It is considered difficult in cultivation.
=Pachyphytum heterosepalum [Walther, 1935], obs.
=Pachyphytum chloranthum [Walther, 1931], obs. (for “Ech. viridiflora” of Poellnitz, 1936, now obs).
=*Ech. heterosepala [Rose, 1903], current.

HUMILIS (Rose, 1903), NE Mex. in SLP to Hidalgo states, first in placed in old series 2 of Walther, sp. #60 on p. 210, then Moran moved it from series Angulatae (where it had later been placed) and into Series Urceolatae, it is now in new Series 16 (Urbiniae) in 2003 Lexicon; name humilis means “low growing”, pub. in Bulletin NY Bot. Gard. 1903, III:8, see Haseltonia #4 of 1996, page 81; this is a slowly branching species, with odd thick, brownish leaves; infl. a medium cincinnus, flowers salmon to yellowish below; cytology: n=32.
=Ech. xichuensis [Lopez & Reyes, 1998], obs.
=*Ech. humilis [Rose, 1903], current.

hyalina (Walther, 1958), Cent. Mex. state of Guanajuato, Walther series 2, #19, p.114, (fig. 53, p.114), name refers to “glassy” for leaf margins, pub. in CSSA Journ. 1958, 30:43. Uhl discusses this sp. in Haseltonia #4 of 1996 on p. 81 where he lists collected plants testing n=31, 32, 34 & 60 (diploid and tetraploid). In Lexicon of 2003 this species was combined into another species.
=Ech. hyalina [Walther, 1958], obs.
=*Ech. elegans [Rose, 1905], current.

‘Imbricata’, (1871, unpublished), not a true species, but a hybrid of J. Deleuil of Marseilles, France, a nurseryman of late 1800s. First listed in La Belgique Horticole of 1874, it is a cross of Ech. glauca x Ech. metallica. (imbricata means “shingled” in ref. to leaves). See CSSA Journ. Nov. 1993, p. 273 for details. Hybrids are not usually placed in series, and cytology is usually not counted. A report from Europe states that this plant is still common in collections there.
=Ech. secunda-glauca (a misnomer), obs.
=*Cultivar ‘Imbricata’ current.

JOHNSONII (Walther, 1958), Ecuador, South America, prov. Pichincha, found near Guayllabamba at 2300 m alt., pub. in CSSA Journ. 1958, 30:46, first in old series Nudae, now in new series of same name now numbered Series 8 in 2003 Lexicon; cytology: n=22, leaves not in rosettes, but crowded along upper stems, color green, inflorescences sub-spicate and short, flowers yellowish with reddish tips and keels. This species is a close relative of the terete leaved Ech. quitensis (with habitat not far away). It was named to honor one of its early growers, Mr. H. Johnson of San Francisco.
= Ech. johnsonii [Walther, 1958]
=*Ech. quitensis [Harling & Andersson, 2004] current.

JUAREZENSIS (Walther, 1959), SW Mexico in state of Oaxaca near La Cumbre in Sierra de Juaraz mts. (for which it is named), ISI 89-50 (p. 59, CSSJ, Mar. '89), first placed in Walther series 2 (Urceolatae), #41 on p. 157, then in AJB of 1976 on p. 810 Prof. Uhl stated that he had to move it into series 4 (Retusae), but it is now listed in new Series 5 (Gibbiflorae) in 2003 Lexicon; published in CSSA Journ. 31:52, 1959; botanical garden listings: HBG-53344, and ISI 89-50 in CSJA on p. 59 of Mar. 1989. It is a rarely branching plant with leaves light green, somewhat glaucous, and medium infl. with about 3 cincinni, and flowers scarlet, cytology: n=27.
=*Ech. juarezensis [Walther, 1959], current.

KIMNACHII (Meyrán & Vega, 1998), NW Mex. in Sinaloa state near Culiacan in mts.; related to Ech. amoena, it is said to have solitary, small rosettes, pub. in Mex. C&S Journ., now in new Series 10 (Paniculatae) in 2003 Lexicon; cytology: n=33+16B. The inflorescence is cymose, 11 to 36 cm, and branched with short, bell shaped flowers having cream colored petals streaked with purple inside, and a purple mid-stripe on underside, flower color can vary from greenish-yellow to clear yellow. The petals are erect. [This may be related to, or same as the little known plant now called “Graptopetalum occidentale”; see CSSA Sept. '07. p.], known from only a single specimen collected by Ortega in Sinaloa, but unknown in cultivation, thus studies are under way in spring 2003. Rarely branching, leaves bluish-green in dense cluster. If related to Ech. amoena as now thought, it seems odd that the habitats are not near each other. Species may need more study.
=*Ech. kimnachii [Meyran & Vega, 1998], current.

KRAHNII ( Kimnach sp. nov., 2009)
2004 collected by Wolfgang Krahn in the Canon de Jucahuasi, southern Bolivia, growing profusely on steep cliffs along the road, accompanied by numerous Bromeliads.  Four other Bolivian echeverias are known : E. bakeri, E. chilonensis (including E. vanvlietii), E. decumbens and E. whitei (including E. rauschii), all in series Racemosae. E. krahnii differs mainly in having olive-green leaves, nearly half-expanded sepals and a pale orange corolla. First published in Avonia 27 (2), 2009, with photos. (MB)
=*E. krahnii [Kimnach 2009], current.