suculenta

Suculenta, in botany and horticulture, refers to succulent plants—plants with thickened, fleshy tissues that store water. In Spanish, “suculenta” is the feminine form of “suculento” and is used to describe these drought‑adapted plants, which occur in many regions but are especially diverse in arid environments.

Characteristics common to succulents include water storage tissues in leaves or stems, reduced leaf area to minimize water loss, and, in many species, specialized metabolism such as CAM photosynthesis that optimizes water use under dry conditions. They exhibit a wide range of forms, from compact rosettes to tall, columnar stems, and a variety of textures and colors.

Sucu­lentas span several plant families, including Cactaceae, Crassulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Aizoaceae, and Asphodelaceae, among others. They are widely grown as ornamentals and houseplants because of their architectural shapes and relative drought tolerance. While many originate in the Americas, Africa and Madagascar also host large succulent communities, reflecting a broad geographic distribution.

Cultivation emphasizes well‑draining soil, bright light, and careful watering. They generally tolerate infrequent watering, with soil allowed to dry between waterings, and are sensitive to overwatering and waterlogged conditions. Temperature tolerances vary among species, but most prefer warm, sunny conditions and protection from frost.

Examples of common succulents include Aloe, Echeveria, Sedum, Crassula, Haworthia, Lithops, and Opuntia. Because the term encompasses many unrelated lineages united by water storage adaptations, succulents represent a convergent suite of traits rather than a single taxonomic group.