Echeveria gibbiflora

Echeveria gibbiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It was described by Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1828. It occurs in Mexico and Guatemala.

Description

Echeveria gibbiflora is a large species of Echeveria, producing rosettes of 15 leaves, a tall flowering stem up to in height, and an average of 160 flower buds. The red, tubular flowers are about long with 10 stamens and 5 styles. It flowers between September and January. The dry fruits each produce approximately 200 small seeds.

Ecology

Each flower is open for between 7–8 days and is visited by nectar-seeking broad-billed hummingbirds. The American bushtit has been documented foraging for aphids that occur among the flowers.

Uses

Echeveria gibbiflora has been used in Mexican folk medicine as a contraceptive, as a vaginal postcoital rinse.
Cultivars include E. gibbiflora 'Carunculata', E. gibbiflora 'Metallica', and E. gibbiflora 'Violescens'.