Aichryson

Taxobox
name = "Aichryson"

---

image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Aichryson punctatum"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Saxifragales
familia = Crassulaceae
genus = "Aichryson"
genus_authority = Webb & Berthel.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "About 15; see text"

"Aichryson" is a genus of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands, with a few in the Azores, Madeira and Morocco, and one in Portugal.

The species of "Aichryson" are not frost-resistant. They are related to "Sempervivum, Jovibarba, Greenovia, Aeonium" and "Monanthes", readily seen in their similar flowers.

Relationships

Recent phylogenentic studies of Crassulaceae indicate that "Aichryson" is closely related to "Monanthes" and "Aeonium" (both genera are also largely endemic to the Canary Islands). Two other genera of Crassulaceae that have many-parted (polymerous) flowers ("Sempervivum" and "Jovibarba") are not closely related to the three Canary Island genera. [Ham and 't Hart. (1998). "American Journal of Botany", 85: 123-134] [Mort et al. (2001). "American Journal of Botany", 88: 76-91] [Mes and 't Hart. (1996). "Molecular Ecology", 5: 351-363] [Mort et al. (2002). "Systematic Botany", 27: 271-288]

On the Canary Islands, the center of species diversity seems to be the island of La Palma Relationships within Aichryson were investigated by Fairfield et al (2004) [Plant Systematics and Evolution248: 71-83] . They found that the five subspeies of A. pachycaulon were not each others closest relatives (monophyletic) and additional species may need to be erected after additional study.

pecies

* "Aichryson bethencourtianum"
* "Aichryson bollei"
* "Aichryson divaricatum"
* "Aichryson laxum"
* "Aichryson palmense"
* "Aichryson porphyrogennetos"
* "Aichryson tortuosum" (Gouty Houseleek)
* "Aichryson villosum"

Other species recognized by Nyffeler in Eggli 2004 are:
* "Aichryson brevipetalum"
* "Aichryson dumosum"
* "Aichryson pachycaulon" (five subspecies have been recognized)
* "Aichryson parlatorei"
* "Aichryson punctatum"

A recently named species is:
* "Aichryson bitumosum"

References