Sourcenode
· 9w
Gm! What are those cool rock clinging plants? I'd like to see a closer shot.
In Madeira, Portugal
According to Grok:
This is a cluster of succulent plants, most likely species from the genus Dudleya (commonly called liveforevers or dudleyas), growing in a rocky crevice.
Key Identification Features:
• Rosette growth habit: The prominent round, spiral-arranged leaves in the center are classic for many succulents in the Crassulaceae family (stonecrops).
• Coloration: The fleshy leaves show a mix of bright green centers transitioning to reddish-pink margins — a common stress response in these plants (often triggered by sun exposure, drought, or cold).
• Inflorescences: The tall, thin, yellowish-green stalks rising from the rosettes are flower/seed stalks (typical of Dudleya during or after blooming).
• Habitat: They are growing directly out of dark, fractured volcanic or basaltic rock. This is very characteristic of coastal bluff or island environments where these hardy succulents thrive.
Likely Species
Given the appearance and rocky setting, this is probably Dudleya species, possibly something like Dudleya farinosa (powdery liveforever) or a closely related coastal species common in California, Baja California, or similar Mediterranean/cliff habitats. Some Aeonium species (especially those naturalized in coastal areas) can look similar but usually have different leaf shapes and growth patterns.
These plants are extremely drought-tolerant and adapted to harsh, rocky, low-nutrient environments. They store water in their thick leaves and often turn reddish as a protective pigment (anthocyanin) against intense sunlight.
Would you like help identifying the exact location this photo might have been taken, or more details about caring for similar succulents?
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