''Monanthes'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of small,

succulent 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 ...

, subtropical plants of the family

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 ...

. The about ten species are mostly

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 the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

and

Savage Islands The Savage Islands or Selvagens Islands ( pt, Ilhas Selvagens ; also known as the Salvage Islands) are a small Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Madeira, and north of the Canary Islands.

, with some found on

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

. Its center of diversity is

Tenerife Tenerife (; ; formerly spelled ''Teneriffe'') is the largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands. It is home to 43% of the total population of the archipelago. With a land area of and a population of 978,100 inhabitants as of Janu ...

, with seven species occurring on this island. On

Fuerteventura Fuerteventura () is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the North Africa region, and politically part of Spain. It is located away from the northwestern coast of Africa. The island was declared a biosphere reserve by UNES ...

and

Lanzarote Lanzarote (, , ) is a Spanish island, the easternmost of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located approximately off the north coast of Africa and from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering , Lanzarote is the fourth-largest of the i ...

, only ''M. laxiflora'' occurs. ''Monanthes'' is a rare example where a species re-colonizes the continent from an island, after their ancestors have colonized the island from the continent. ''Monanthes'' are not frost-resistant. They are linked with the genera ''

Sempervivum ''Sempervivum'' (Brit. , U.S. �sɛ̃mpeɹ'vivũm is a genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, commonly known as houseleeks. Other common names include liveforever (the source of the taxonomical designation ''Sem ...

'', ''

Greenovia ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropics, subtropical plants of the family (biology), family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek α� ...

'', ''

Aichryson ''Aichryson'' is a genus of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands, with a few in the Azores, Madeira and Morocco. The species of ''Aichryson'' are not frost-resistant. They are related to ''Semper ...

'' and ''

Aeonium ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropics, subtropical plants of the family (biology), family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek α� ...

'', which is obvious from their similar

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s. Species of ''Monanthes'' differ considerably in life- and growth-form. ''M. icterica'', which is also genetically quite distant to other ''Monanthes'' species, is annual, while the other species are

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 ...

Taxonomy

Accepted species include: * '' Monanthes anagensis'' Praeger * ''

Monanthes atlantica ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' J.Ball * ''

Monanthes brachycaulos ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Webb & Bertholt) R.Lowe * ''

Monanthes icterica ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Webb ex Bolle) Christ * ''

Monanthes laxiflora ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (DC.) Bolle ex Bornmuller * ''

Monanthes lowei ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Paiva) Perez & Acebes * ''

Monanthes minima ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Bolle) Christ * ''

Monanthes muralis ''Monanthes muralis'' is a species in the genus '' Monanthes'', forming small, succulent bushes with green flowers. The Latin specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two ...

'' Hook.f. * ''

Monanthes pallens ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Webb in Christ) Christ * ''

Monanthes polyphylla ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Aiton) Haw. ** ''Monanthes polyphylla'' subsp. ''amydros'' Nyffeler * ''

Monanthes subcrassicaulis ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Kuntze) Praeger * ''

Monanthes subrosulata ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' Bañares & A. Acev.-Rodr.Bañares Baudet Á., Acevedo Rodríguez A. & Rebolé Beaumont Á.: Monanthes subrosulata, a new species of M. sect. Sedoidea (Crassulaceae) from La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. — Willdenowia 43: 25–31. June 2013. * ''

Monanthes tilophila ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' (Bolle) Christ * ''

Monanthes wildpretii ''Monanthes'' is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Savage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with ...

'' Bañares & S.Scholz

Etymology

''Monanthes'' is Greek for "single flower".

References

Bibliography

* Mes, T. H. M., Wijers, G. J. & Hart, H. (1997). :Phylogenetic relationships in ''Monanthes'' (Crassulaceae) based on morphological, chloroplast and nuclear DNA variation". ''Journal of Evolutionary Biology'' 10(2):193–216.

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q140427 Flora of Madeira Flora of the Canary Islands Crassulaceae genera