Aichryson laxum Photo by: © Plantemania
Growing habit near Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, 14 February 2018.
Origin and Habitat: Canary Islands (except Lanzarote and possibly Fuerteventura); naturalized in Portugal (Serra de Sintra).
Altitude range: Aichryson laxumSN|34893]]SN|34893]] grows on wet cliffs in rock crevices and shady slopes and extra-humid places in laurel and pine forests. It is often frequent and forms forms colonies. It is also encountered on damp, shady town walls. Occasionally Aichryson laxumSN|34893]]SN|34893]] grows epiphytically. It is probably the most abundant species of Crassulaceae on the Canaries.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Aichryson laxum
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Aichryson laxum (Haw.) BramwellBol. Inst. Nac. Invest. Agron. xxviii. 207 (1968).Synonymy: 11
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Tree of Love
DANISH (Dansk): stuehusløg
SPANISH (Español): gongarillo canario
Description: Aichryson laxum is an annual or most often biennial semi-succulent herbaceous plant (it dies after flowering unless the inflorescence is removed as the flowers die). It is 15-40 (rarely up to 80) cm tall, often weedy and fragile. The whole plant is covered with soft, short hairs up to 4 mm long and hairy, green or reddish (in strong light) leaves, up to 7.5 cm long, arranged in rosettes at the tip of stems. The inflorescence is a branched cluster of up to 50 star-like, yellow flowers. Although it is very similar to Aichryson porphyrogennetos Bolle, it is best recognized by its soft, hairy, long-petiolate, blunt leaves , which are wider near the base and mid-yellow flowers. The hairs do not have a glandular tip and the leaves lack black glands at the edges.
Derivation of specific name: laxum: latin epithet meaning lax, loose, not very tight, alluding to the soft leaves of this plant.
Stems: 7- 2 mm in diameter, generally hairy throughout, lower braches slightly woody, dichotomous (forked).The twigs are upright.
Leaves: The leaves are loose, arranged alternately, 25-60 mm long, 15-30 mm wide, widely ovate or rhombic, broadest near the base, blunt or rounded, truncate to abruptly narrowed into a distinct narrow petiole, densely hairy, often tinged purplish-red. The margins are papillose, not crenulate and without black dots.
inflorescence: Lax, many-flowered; Peduncles 6-12 mm long.
Flowers; 9- to 12-merous, 13-6 mm in diameter; Sepals hairy. Petals 6-8 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, deep yellow. Flowering time is from April to June.
Taxonomy notes: This species is often encountered under the name of A. dichotomum (e.g. Flora Europaea). A. laxum has priority, however, but its application is questioned by some authors.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae: Crassulaceae” Springer Science & Business Media, 2003
2) Aichryson laxum in: British Cactus & Succulent Journal, Cactus & Succulent Society, 1993
3) Aichryson laxum in: Cuadernos de botanica Canaria, Museo Canario, 1971
4) Aichryson laxum in: Willdenowia, Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, 1996
5) Aichryson laxum in: World of Succulents, web: https://worldofsucculents.com/aichryson-laxum-tree-of-love/
6) Aichryson laxum in: Flora Vascular de Canarias web: http://www.floradecanarias.com/Aichryson_laxum.html
7) Schönfelder: "Kosmos Atlas Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora", Stuttgart 2002.
8) Hohenester & Welss: "Exkursionsflora für die Kanarischen Inseln", Stuttgart 1993
Cultivation and Propagation: Aichryson laxumSN|34893]]SN|34893]] grow as understory plants and prefer to grow in slightly shaded moist soil with plenty of humus butthey are rarely seen in cultivation.Perhaps its monocarpic nature is off-putting to growers. They tolerate a cool, frost-free winter kept fairly dry. They often produce volunteer seedlings around themselves after flowering. They are very tolerant of considerable shade. Given the right conditions these plants will provide an marvelous show of yellow flowers. Grow these plants hard with very little fertilizer because they can flower them selves to death.
In winter they require a rather sunny spot inside at moderate, cool temperatures.
