Hechtia Klotsch.

Named after Julius Hecht, a councillor of Potsdam Germany (b. 1885).

Coarse plants with the habit of Yucca or Agave. Stem short. Leaves in a dense rosette, blades coarsely spined in most species. Scape well developed, usually lateral with leaf-like bracts. Inflorescence paniculate, bipinnate or more; branches from capitate to lax and very long. Flowers functionally unisexual on different plants, small; sepals free; petals usually free; stamens protruding to included.

This plant is found mainly in desert or semi-desert regions and can therefore be grown in the full sun in outside rockeries. However, its very prickly stiff nature and penchant for offsetting makes it difficult to cultivate.

Mainly grown from offsets.

About 55 species from southern USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Source: Christensen, T.; Butcher, D. (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Poales
family       Bromeliaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Hechtia glomerata Zucc.
species         Hechtia marnier-lapostollei L.B.Sm.