Echeveria

Con base en ejemplares botánicos originarios del estado de Jalisco, México, se propone como especie nueva para la ciencia, describe e ilustra a Echeveria patriotica (Crassulaceae). Este taxon por llevar tallo, láminas foliares angostas en la base en forma de pseudopeciolo, inflorescencia paniculiforme con raquis alargado, con más de tres ramificaciones y corola cilíndrico-urceolada, de más de 13 mm de largo, se ubica en la serie Gibbiflorae (Baker) A. Berger. Del conjunto de especies involucradas en este grupo tiene más semejanza con E. grisea E. Walther, de la que difiere en el largo de los pedicelos, del cáliz y de la corola, que son más grandes en la nueva especie; además, se diferencian en el color de la flor y de los nectarios.

Flowers have evolved suites of traits that are associated with the attraction, reward and utiliza- tion of particular pollinator types. Specialization on particular pollinator functional group results in a particu- lar combination of floral traits with consequences on plant fitness through efficient pollen delivery and pollen receipt at the population and species level. The aim of this study was to describe the floral morphology, nectar production patterns, floral visitors and natural fruit set in a population of Echeveria rosea Lindley (Crassula- ceae) in central Veracruz, Mexico. The floral traits of Echeveria rosea correspond to the typical hummingbird pollination syndrome. The diurnal pattern of accumulated nectar (volume and amount of sugar) produced by the species corresponds to values reported for other hummingbird-pollinated species. Based on observations of foraging behavior, the Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lamprolaima rhami) seems to be a more effective pollinator than the White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis). Fruit set per plant was high under natural conditions in the studied population of E. rosea. These results corroborate the hypothesis that E. rosea has a specialized hummingbird-pollination system that results in high fruit set under natural conditions.