I was ready to enter a photo of Kalanchoe luciae into the data base, but it's Kalanchoe thyrsiflora in the DB. I don't think thyrsiflora is correct. I believe thysiflora is a name that has been used in California, but is actually luciae. Does anyone have an opinion?

I don't think they are the same plant. I believe what you are showing is K. thyrsiflora. However, I do see the names used side by side. It probably needs more investigation.

I did a google image search for both and they are in some instances showing the same plant....

I believe it was sold in California as thyrsoflora, but misnamed. I'll do a little more looking.

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora is an accepted name in the RHS database..

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticu...

They have two cultivars listed.. 'Bronze Sculpture', accepted, and 'Desert Flame' which is tentatively accepted.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/rhsplan...

No results were found on the RHS for Kalanchoe luciae, neither were found on Itis. That does not mean K.luciae doesn't exist, they are just not in the database.

SM Growers mention both, closely related.. one has been called the other!

http://www.smgrowers.com/info/...

Those of K. thyrsiflora are more uniform chalky green or white, covered with a thick flour-like coating of wax. The flowers of the two species also differ. Those of K. luciae are not strongly scented and have an urnceolate flower tube with pale-yellow lanceolate corolla lobes. Those of K. thyrsiflora are heavily sweet scented with a cylindric flower tube and brilliant yellow broadly obovate lobes.

Another link to SM Growers on UBC suggests one is the synonym on the other .. which doesn't mean there isn't two species, but one has been called the other!

http://www.smgrowers.com/produ...

It seems there is two species, now all you need to do is decide which yours is.

First check out the Plant list!

The Plant List includes 305 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Kalanchoe. Of these 73 are accepted species names.

http://www.theplantlist.org/br...

I went straight to the Plant List and they list both names as valid.

That's strange Hetty, I get Kalanchoe thyrsiflora as a synonym of Kalanchoe tetraphylla

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

Kalanchoe luciae is a synonym of Kalanchoe luciae subsp. luciae (basically the same thing) which itself is an unresolved name.

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

They do state it is an accepted name on Tropicos though!

It seems neither are accepted names, but the RHS has Kalanchoe thyrsiflora as accepted, which is the most up to date I don't know.

Plant names is what I do at work and we use The Plant List as the authority.

Okay, we're just home from a party. I'll look over what you've sent and decide if I should enter the photo. Thanks for the feedback.

I've spent way too much time reading this morning, but I do appreciate the information you've both provided! I have to conclude after reading the San Marcos nursery link you sent, Janet, that my plant is K. luciae and not K. thrysiflora. In addition, I have one with a bloom stalk and it doesn't look like the K. thrysiflora, but the K. luciae.

http://www.smgrowers.com/info/...

I'll continue to read up on this, but I will wait to include the photos of the plants and the bloom until I'm convinced one way or the other.

Inflorescences are a sure way of identifying plants.

At least K. luciae was 'unresolved' on the plant list and not a synonym (only of itself Kalanchoe luciae subsp. luciae) Sandi! Good job they have the flowers on smgrowers too!