Ecosystem knowledge

Scrub / Steppe

These public plant profiles are associated with this ecosystem label. Distribution and growing context remain specific to each plant.

Agave

Agave guiengola

The succulent leaves of most Agave species have sharp marginal teeth, an extremely sharp terminal spine, and are very fibrous inside. The stout stem is usually extremely short, which may make the plant appear as though it is stemless. During flowering, a tall stem or "mast" ("quiote" in Mexico), which can grow to be 12m high and Agave salmiana can be significantly taller. The panicle grows apically from the center of the rosette and bears a large number of short, tubular flowers and sometimes vegetatively produced bulbils (a form of asexual reproduction). After pollination/fertilization and subsequent fruit development, in monocarpic species, the original rosette dies. However, throughout the lifetime of many Agave species, rhizomatous suckers develop above the roots at the base of the rosette. These suckers go on to form new plants after the original rosette desiccates and dies. Not all agaves produce suckers throughout their lifetimes; some species rarely or never produce suckers, while others may only develop suckers after final maturation with inflorescence. Some varieties can live for 60 years before flowering.

MexicoUnited States

Krantz Aloe

Aloe arborescens

It is a large, multi-headed, sprawling succulent, and its specific name indicates that it sometimes reaches tree size. A typical height for this species is 2–3 metres high. It’s leaves are succulent and are green with a slight blue tint. They have small spikes along its edges and are arranged in rosettes situated at the end of branches. Flowers are arranged in a type of inflorescence called a raceme. The racemes are not branched but two to several can sprout from each rosette. Flowers are cylindrical in shape and are a vibrant red-orange color.

BotswanaEswatiniMalawi+3

Woolly senecio

Caputia tomentosa

Fleshy, cylindrical leaves covered in white, cotton-like hairs, arranged spirally on stems. Produces disk-like orange or yellow flower heads, often in late summer. Grows up to about 30cm.

South Africa

Silver jade plant

Crassula arborescens

Other names: Silver dollar (jade) plant, Beestebul, Chinese jade, Cookie plant, Money plant or Money tree *Endemic species to Western Cape (South Africa).* It grows from 0.6-1.2 m, succulent shrub. It has a single main trunk that can reach a diameter of up to 6cm. The branches are thickened and gray-green in color. Shoots with leaves have a diameter of 7-10mm.

South Africa

Plant profile

Echeveria laui

It is a slow-growing, attractive succulent from Mexico, known for its beautiful, powdery white or pinkish-blue rosettes that are easily damaged by touch. It requires well-draining soil, bright light, and infrequent watering (only when soil is completely dry) to prevent root rot.

Mexico

Golden Barrel Cactus

Echinocactus grusonii

It is a popular, spherical cactus known for its bright green color, prominent ribs, and dense, yellow spines. It can grow quite large, reaching up to 80 cm in diameter and 1.5 meters in height, though it takes many decades to do so. It thrives in full sun and requires well-draining soil, with water given when the soil is dry, and it produces yellow, funnel-shaped flowers in summer.

Mexico

Eastern Cape blue cycad

Encephalartos horridus

Mature plants have big stems of between 0.5–1 m in length and 20–30 cm in diameter, with the majority of the stem growing below ground. Leaves are up to 1 m long and often sharply recurved towards the tip, looking stiff and spiny. Younger leaves are a silvery-blue colour but turn green with age. Cones are usually brownish- or blackish-red and single with a dense layer of fine hair. Both male and female cones are produced. The female cone is egg-shaped and up to 40 cm long and 20 cm in diameter while the male cone is largely cylindrical narrowing towards the ends up to 40 cm long and 12 cm in diameter. Seeds are roughly triangular with three flattened surfaces.

South Africa

The Crown of Thorns

Euphorbia milii

Other names: Christ plant, Christ’s thorn Comes from the family of Euphorbiaceae. It is a woody, succulent subshrub or shrub growing up to 1.8m tall, depending on cultivar, with densely spiny stems. Some varieties grow in a more horizontal, sprawling, or prostrate manner, while others grow nearly vertically. Certain cultivars are prized for their thinner stems, while many, especially the Thai hybrids, have considerably thicker, substantial stems, measuring several inches in diameter. Just as the flowers and growth habit can vary by cultivar, so too can the sharpness/bluntness or shape and consistency of the spines. On most varieties, the spines will measure up to 3 cm long, and aid the plant in scrambling over other plants, eventually forming a dense and impenetrable wall. The fleshy, green leaves are found mainly on new growth and are up to 3.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. Several variegated varieties exist in cultivation. The flowers are small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like bracts, variably red, pink or white, up to 12 mm.

Madagascar

Giant chin cactus

Gymnocalycium saglionis

*Endemic species* It is known to grow very slowly, and grow best in warm and part shady conditions, but tolerate extremely bright situations although they are likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer. The body can range from dull-green or blue-green, almost cylindrical more or less flattened up to 40cm in diameter, up to 90cm tall. Spines can grown to 3–4 cm long, colors varies from yellowish-brown, reddish or white becoming grey with time which contrast well against the green body, 1−3 centrals and 10−15 radials bent against the stem. Spines become bright red when wet. Flowers 3.6 cm long, white or reddish, often more than one simultaneously. Fruits globular, reddish or dark pink, splits sideways with tiny, shiny black brown seeds.

Argentina

peace lily

Spathiphyllum wallisii

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a stemless, evergreen herbaceous perennial with basal, dark green, glossy leaves (often 4-25 inches long) that form dense clumps. It features a characteristic aroid inflorescence—a white to greenish-white, sail-like bract called a spathe that curves around a cream-colored spadix bearing tiny, bisexual flowers

Costa Rica