A new genus - Jeronimoa

[Tom in Tucson]

A new genus has just been proposed for a taxon in the Mexican Crassulaceae.

Pachyphytum cuicatecanum which was originally described as Echeveria cuicatecana in 2004, was renamed to Pachyphytum cuicatecanum in 2010 based on its overall appearance to other members of this genus. The reason it was originally described as an Echeveria was due to the structure of the flowers having more in common with that genus. The Mexican staff of the Botanical Garden of the National Autonomous University needed to resolve this naming discrepancy. They approved a study to find other evidence besides the morphological characteristics. What they needed was a molecular study to possibly resolve its classification. Phylogenetic evidence was gathered by using a new DNA process. As a result of this analysis, it was proven that this taxon did not belong to the genus Pachyphytum. A new genus has recently been proposed to honor Jerónimo Reyes Santiago (https://www.ib.unam.mx/ib/directorio-de ... EzTW40UT09#) for his three decades of study of the Crassulaceae.

The name for this new genus is called Jeronimoa. The description can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... ACHYPHYTUM

2 images are provided:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jo ... esis-B.jpg

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jo ... etalos.jpg

An image from Facebook:

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=6564F3A7

[edds]

Thanks for sharing. I don't hink I'll change the labels on my plants just yet but there is certainly a real mess with a lot of the Crassulaceae in and around Central America. I think Sedum suaveolens is another that seems anomalous.

[mickthecactus]

Great name! Is Cochisea still valid? Another great name.

[Tom in Tucson]

Thanks for sharing. I don't hink I'll change the labels on my plants just yet but there is certainly a real mess with a lot of the Crassulaceae in and around Central America. I think Sedum suaveolens is another that seems anomalous.

Out of curiosity do your labels say Pachyphytum or Echeveria on this rarely cultivated succulent?

It's hard to know where to start on the massive job of sorting out and establishing constructive, and (hopefully) lasting genera names for the multitude of members of the Crassulaceae from Mexico. The list of nonconforming species is daunting. Sometimes I get a little annoyed by the current tendency to "lump" species which don't deserve to be downgraded. The species which clearly is the most deserving of it's original name is Tacitus bellus.

As an aside AFAIK this species was only collected once (by Alfred Lau), although the type locality is not that difficult to reach. When he was there ('72), in addition to collecting many other interesting succulents, he also collected a few other plants. One of those is the recently described new species: Pinguicula warijia https://www.biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/artic ... .3.1/75070, despite a lapse of over 50 years. I read through this paper, and they had to revisit the locality (in the Sierra Obscura on the border of the states of Chihuahua and Sonora. http://www.fallingrain.com/world/MX/26/Babarocos.html) to confirm the species locality, but there was no mention of another sighting of Tacitus bellus. Two questions come to mind; is it still there?, and is it found anywhere else?

[edds]

Out of curiosity do your labels say Pachyphytum or Echeveria on this rarely cultivated succulent?

Pachyphytum. I have this species from two sources - seed grown from Koehres Kakteen and also a plant from a fellow hobbyist. Both were given the Pachyphytum name when I acquired them. To be honest, until I read your post, I hadn't realised there was any controversy about its genus - it looks very much like a Pachyphytum to me in growth and flowering (other than very chunky sepals).

[Tom in Tucson]

Out of curiosity do your labels say Pachyphytum or Echeveria on this rarely cultivated succulent?

Pachyphytum. I have this species from two sources - seed grown from Koehres Kakteen and also a plant from a fellow hobbyist. Both were given the Pachyphytum name when I acquired them. To be honest, until I read your post, I hadn't realised there was any controversy about its genus - it looks very much like a Pachyphytum to me in growth and flowering (other than very chunky sepals).

I'd being willing to bet that if Myron Kimnach could, he'd 2nd your very sensible observation. As a matter of fact, this controversy has been discussed on Mexican FB succulent sales sites for months (years?). I 1st heard that a new genus was "in the works" several months ago. At the time I "chalked it up" as being quite doubtful, but I was obviously wrong.