''Echeveria atropurpurea'' is a species of

succulent plant In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

in the

Crassulaceae The Crassulaceae (from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the stonecrop family or the orpine family, are a diverse family of dicotyledon flowering plants characterized by succulent leaves and a unique form of photosynthesis, known as Crass ...

family. It is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

commonly known as chapetona or siempreviva, and is a

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Central

Veracruz, Mexico Veracruz (), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), is one of the 31 states which, along with Me ...

in tropical deciduous forests. It is noted for its fast growing, easy cultivation, and red to yellow flowers. It is currently threatened by habitat loss.

Description

It stands roughly 77 cm tall with 7-21 cm rosette-shaped leaves that may range in coloration from green to purple. Its flowers (appearing Nov-Feb) have a dark green base with corolla pink-orange (salmon) to deep red/orange petals. It has numerous brown seeds.

Taxonomy

''Echeveria'' is named for

Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy was an 18th-century Mexican people, Mexican botanical artist and naturalist who trained at the Royal Art Academy in Mexico. The genus ''Echeveria'' was named in his honour by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. Royal Botani ...

, a botanical illustrator who contributed to ''Flora Mexicana''.Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp. 61, 149 ''Atropurpurea'' means "dark-purple coloured". This name is ostensibly due to its purple leaves and bracts.

References

{{taxonbar, from=Q15482824 atropurpurea Flora of Mexico Taxa named by John Gilbert Baker Taxa named by Charles Jacques Édouard Morren