Aeonium glutinosum

Description

Aeonium glutinosum is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae endemic to Madeira, Portugal. It has fairly thick leaves and its appearance varies depending on its growing conditions. One characteristic is the very sticky stem of the inflorescence. The main flower is shown but small stalks with flowers continue to appear for several months. It is a very viscous perennial sub-shrub, with a robust stem, branches up to 60 centimetres (24 in) decumbent or ascending, occasionally subsessile plants. Rosette-shaped leaves up to 22 centimetres (8.7 in) in diameter with loose, subtle young leaves. Leaves up to 12 by 5 centimetres (4.7 in × 2.0 in) yellowish-green, usually with brownish stripes near the apex glabrous, ciliated margins with few or numerous thin single-celled hairs. Inflorescences very loose, remotely branched, up to 40 by 45 centimetres (16 in × 18 in) Petals 5–7 millimetres (0.20–0.28 in), golden yellow, usually with red stripes abaxially. The species is endemic to Madeira Island and Deserta Grande Island part of the Madeira Archipelago. Aeonium, the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek "αιώνιος"/"aionios" (ageless). While most of them are native to the Canary Islands, some are found in Madeira, Cape Verde, Morocco, in East Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) and Yemen. The succulent leaves are typically arranged on a basal stem, in a dense, spreading rosette. A feature which distinguishes this genus from many of its relatives is the manner in which the flowers bear free petals, and are divided into 6 or 12 sections. Each rosette produces a central inflorescence only once, and then dies back (though it will usually branch or offset to produce ensuing rosettes). Low-growing Aeonium species are A. tabuliforme and A. smithii; large species include A. arboreum, A. valverdense and A. holochrysum. They are related to the genera Sempervivum, Aichryson and Monanthes, as can be seen by their similar flower and inflorescences. Recently, the genus Greenovia has been placed within Aeonium. Most aeoniums are from the Canary Islands,  but some are from Madeira, Cape Verde, Morocco, Yemen and East Africa : Ethiopia (for example in the Semien Mountains), Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Some species have been introduced in California.