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Succulentus

/suk-yoo-LEN-tus/
🏷️ Taxonomy Basic

Also known as: succulenta, succulentum

A morphological epithet describing plants with swollen, juicy, water-filled leaves, stems, or roots adapted for survival in dry conditions. While "succulent" is also a common-use plant category, the epithet specifically highlights the plant's water-storing tissue as its defining characteristic. Appears as succulentus (masculine), succulenta (feminine), or succulentum (neuter).

Etymology

From Latin succulentus, meaning "full of juice" or "juicy," from succus (juice, sap) + -ulentus (full of).

Example

Portulaca oleracea (purslane) is described as succulenta in some references for its unusually juicy, water-filled leaves, and many named Aloe and Agave cultivars carry this epithet for their plump, moisture-laden tissues.

Example Plant

🌿Sedum succulentum

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