Recognizing Different Types of Succulents
identifying succulents by distinct characteristics - comparing sempervivum and echeveria
Any plant that stores water in its leaves, stems or roots is classified as a succulent. Many varieties look wildly different from one another. But some types of succulents look very similar. Echeveria and Sempervivum are two genera that are often confused for one another. Both share the same common name hens and chicks. They look similar, with each plant forming a large rosette. They reproduce in a similar fashion, each forming offsets
Succulent offsets are the baby succulents that form at the b...
that grow beside the primary rosette. Yet one thrives at temperatures well below zero and the other dies with a single freeze.
Over time, you will become able to recognize more different types of succulents just by sight. Even if you cannot tell a sempervivum from an echeveria now, if you continue to look and seek the distinctions, soon you’ll recognize their differences. Sounds weird, I know. But just as you know your own child, even when they’re in a sea of other kids… Or you know your own cat, separate from all others… Recognizing small distinctions is a talent we all share. We just use this talent for different things. Maybe you can spot the difference between muscle cars of the 1960s. I can tell between a wolf and a coyote. Some people instantly distinguish between a Cabernet of different vintages or identify bird species by their calls. It just takes practice.
You can see one clear distinction between sempervivum and echeveria in the photo above. Do you see the many, tiny hairs all along the leaf margin of the sempervivum? Those are ciliate hairs. They collect dew for the plant in its arid habitat. Sempervivum have these ciliate hairs, but few echeveria do. If your plant has tiny hairs all along the margin — most likely it’s not an echeveria.
Taken from https://thesucculenteclectic.com/identifying-types-of-succulents-pictures/
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell phone 641-903-9365