Background and Aims:

Echeveria (Crassulaceae) is an American genus consisting of about 204 species, 164 of which have been recorded from Mexico, as a consequence of which this country is considered to be its center of diversity and endemism. Although several studies on this group exist, plants that do not correspond with earlier described species are continuously found during botanical explorations. The aims of this article were to describe an Echeveria species which is new to science, compare it with similar species, and assess its conservation status.

Methods:

Explorations were carried out in the Sierra de Pénjamo, Guanajuato, where an unidentified Echeveria was discovered. In addition, we visited sites with records of Echeveria dactylifera and E. novogaliciana, species morphologically similar to the undescribed one. Morphological descriptions of the plants were made and the specimens were herborized to be sent to the herbaria IEB and MEXU. Finally, the conservation status of the new species was determined according to IUCN criteria and categories.

Key results:

Echeveria barbosae is proposed as a species new to science, is compared to E. dactylifera and E. novogaliciana, to which it is similar, and assigned the status of Critically Endangered (CR).

Conclusions:

Echeveria barbosae resembles E. dactylifera and E. novogaliciana, but differs from both in leaf shape and size, as well as in aspects of the flower. These three species, along with E. marianae, E. kristenii and E. rulfiana, have a pair of appendages on the inner side of the petals. The new taxon is endemic to southwestern Guanajuato. With the publication of this species, the number of Echeveria known from Guanajuato increases to 12.

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