Villadia squamulosa
in N. L. Britton and J. N. Rose, New N. Amer. Crassul., 5. 1903,.
Stems 1+ from tuberous roots, strict, with 20–70 ascending leaves, 1–3 mm diam., nearly smooth. Leaf blades 1–2.5 cm × 1–3 mm. Inflorescences of compact, 1–3-flowered cincinni, 10–30-branched, 3–15 cm × 5–13 mm. Flowers: corolla rose or with white margins, 2–4 × 5–7 mm, tube ± 0.5 mm, lobes ovate; nectaries bright yellow, drying dark red, cuneate-flabellate, ca. 1 × 1–1.3 mm. Follicles red-brown, 2.5 mm; styles abruptly spreading. Seeds brown, 0.5 mm. 2n = 34.
Phenology: Flowering late summer–early fall.
Habitat: Rock crevices
Elevation: 1800-2400 m
Distribution
Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas).
Discussion
Like Echeveria strictiflora, Villadia squamulosa enters the flora area only in the mountains of western Texas. It is remarkable for its flabellate nectaries, larger than in other species and large for the size of the flower. Also, the chromosome number seems to be unique in the genus. It is close to V. laxa Moran & C. H. Uhl, of western Mexico, and to V. minutiflora Rose, of Oaxaca.
Selected References
None.