Conchita

Glaucous echeveria

Echeveria secunda

"I am native to Mexico, small but with pink edges on my leaves."

Video for kids

Watch this video for a simplified explanation!

Glaucous echeveria

Characteristics- small, perennial succulent. It forms compact rosettes typically less than 20 cm in diameter. The plant has fleshy, bluish-gray leaves with pink edges and Its flowers are reddish or orange with yellow tips and grow on stalks up to 31 cm tall.

Classification

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulacee
Genus: Echeveria
Species: Echeveria glauca

Energy

What is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is a chemical process that occurs mostly in plants when they are exposed to sunlight. During photosynthesis, water and carbon dioxide combine to form carbohydrates (sugars) and as a waste, they give off oxygen.

Cellular respiration:

To get energy, plants need to break down the glucose. This happens inside their cells. They mix glucose with oxygen. when they mix, they produce energy, water and CO2. Plants use the energy to do everything they need. The leftover carbon dioxide goes back into the air

Habitat info

Distribution in Mexico: (CDMX, Durango, Hidalgo, Guanajuato, México, Puebla, Queretaro, Tlaxcala)
Temperature: Echeverias are adapted to survive in dry conditions
Rainfall: Their habitat has little to no rainfall
type of soils: From rocky slopes mountain regions.
altitude: Their habitats are normally places with high altitudes
other types of plants and fauna that share their habitat: Pollinators and other cacti

Is this plant endagered?

No, it's not endangered. This plant is commonly used as a decoration plant due to its low maintenance and its aesthetic formations. That takes part of its economic importance since it's exported worldwide and can be found in households in any part of the world.

Cultural importance

This species of echeveria is culturally important for its Ornamental aspects. Due to its attractive appearance and ease of cultivation in pots or in the ground. Also since its origin is Mexican, this plant is exported all over the world reaching New Zealand and Vietnam.

Food web

Ecological role and importance

As a Producer: converts sunlight into energy (photosynthesis), creating the base of the food web. Source of Food and Water: delivers hydration and nutrients to herbivores and insects. Nectar Provider: It supplies nectar to pollinators such as bees. Habitat and Shelter: It provides refuge and small habitats to insects, birds, and small Additionally, It tends to form substantial colonies on rocky outcrops and volcanic rock slopes. It is often associated with various mosses, with which it seems to have a symbiotic relationship.

Special traits for survival

Echeverias store water in their thick leaves and close their stomata during the day to prevent evaporation from happening. Also, they are very drought tolerant because of these thick leaves. They can also change colors if put in a certain level of stress.

Survival advantages

As I've mentioned before, Echeveria plants are low maintenance, drought-resistant, and can contain water in their leaves by closing their stomata. This gives them an advantage over other species and enables them to resist harsher climates.

Close relatives

The Genus Echeveria is part of the Crassulceae family, making it a close relative of the Pachyphylum. This genus contains other succulents that are closely related to Echeveria and sometimes they are hybridized with them.

Evolutionary timeline

Citations

Secunda FA Secunda, www.crassulaceae.ch/de/artikel?akID=48&aaID=2&aiID=S&aID=1901. Accessed 23 May 2024.

Shirlet, Teresa. “Glaucous Echeveria.” TERESA SHIRLET, 31 Jan. 2024, teshira.hla.ke/glaucous-echeveria/.

Gavica, Joe. “Colorful Succulents: Why Succulents Change Colors?” Harddy, 28 June 2019, harddy.com/blogs/succulents-cacti-faq/why-succulents-change-colors#:~:text=Succulent%20plants%20will%20often%20change,Water%2C%20Sunlight%2C%20and%20Temperature.

“Echeveria Secunda.” Echeveria Secunda (Blue Echeveria, Copper Rose, Maroon Chenille Plant, Painted Lady, Painted-Lady, Plush Plant, Wax Rosette) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/echeveria-secunda/#:~:text=Blue%20Echeveria%20is%20a%20popular,inch%20yellow%20flower%20in%20summer. Accessed 23 May 2024.

“Echeveria Secunda -- Earthpedia Plant.” Earthpedia, earthpedia.earth.com/plant-encyclopedia/angiosperms/crassulaceae/echeveria-secunda/. Accessed 23 May 2024.

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