A major genetic difference between the two is that Graptopetalum pentandrum is a diploid with 32 chromosomes while G. superbum (3-4 times vs 12-15) and the flowers have less red in them. The inflorescence of Graptopetalum pentandrum branches much less than G. superbum, which has pale violet gray colored leaves. The leaves are about half as long and slightly narrower than G. pentandrum, an invalid name that never existed! This plant differs from Graptopetalum superbum by having thinner stems holding smaller rosettes of yellow gray-green leaves that are blushed with violet colors. To really confuse some people this plant has erroneously been listed as Graptopetalum superbum and true G. This plant is sometimes confused with Graptopetalum superbum which was originally classified as a subspecies of Graptopetalum pentandrum but was later elevated to species level. The specific epithet is from the Greek words 'penta' meaning "five" and 'andros' meaning "man" or in botany "stamens" in reference to this plant having five stamens while most in the genus have ten. The name for the Genus comes the Greek words "graptos" meaning "marked" or "inscribed" and "petalon" meaning "petals" for the markings on the flower petals of many of the species. It was later found in 1987 growing in the wild at a waterfall in the state of Michoacan state by Alfred Lau. This species was found by the long time director of the Huntington Botanic Garden, Myron Kimnach, in a nursery in Mexico in 1970 and was first described the following year by Reid Moran in the Cactus and Succulent Society of America Journal (Vol 43 No. ![]() ![]() This easy to grow and prolific plant makes a good landscape plant or container specimen or even a hanging plant when stems elongate. The flowers, which appear in late winter to early spring on open slightly branched inflorescences, are pale yellow with red markings near the petal tips, and with red stigma lobes and stamens, which like G. Graptopetalum pentandrum (Five Stamen Graptopetalum) This succulent has 3 to 4 inch wide flat open rosettes at the ends of fleshy stems with thick pale yellow-gray leaves that have a faint purple blush. Graptopetalum pentandrum - Five Stamen Graptopetalum Graptopetalum pentandrum at San Marcos Growers
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