Calibanus hookeri

Mexican boulder
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Nolinoideae
Genus:	Calibanus
Species:	C. hookeri
Binomial name
Calibanus hookeri Trel.
Synonyms
Beaucarnea hookeri (Lem.) Baker Calibanus caespitosus (Scheidw.) Rose Dasylirion caespitosum Scheidw. Dasylirion flexile K.Koch Dasylirion hartwegianum Hook. nom. illeg. Dasylirion hookeri Lem. Nolina hookeri (Lem.) G.D.Rowley

One of only two species in its genus, Calibanus hookeri is a member of the family Asparagaceae native to Tamaulipas in Mexico, which can easily be mistaken in the wild for a boulder overgrown with grass tufts.

Description

Calibanus hookeri forms a large caudex which has been known to reach diameters and heights of up to 2.6 feet. Atop the caudex sprouts extremely narrow greyish-green leaves that look like grass. Each leaf rosette grown from the caudex is believed to be a vegetatively produced independent plant which dies after fruiting to be replaced by a new one. Flower stalks grow to 2–3.3 feet tall with many branchings and bear tiny, greenish white flowers.

Cultivation

Calibanus hookeri likes full sunlight and well drained and fertilized soils. Should be grown in a large and shallow container and should be kept outside in summer.

Gallery

• 
  Closeup of leaves and caudex of Calibanus hookeri
• 
  Detail of corky bark of caudex of Calibanus hookeri

References

• The Complete Encyclopedia of Succulents by Zdenek Jezek and Libor Kunte.