CRASSULACEiE. 55 



SPECIES VII.— S E D U M A'CRE. Li 

 Plate DXXXII. 



^. 



Stems tufted, much-branched, producing very numerous de- 

 cumbent rooting barren shoots below the flowering ones. Leaves 

 crowded and densely imbricated in about 6 spirally-longitudinal 

 rows on the barren shoots, more distant and ascending on the 

 flowering ones, ovate - ovoid or oblong - ovoid, slightly flattened 

 above and convex beneath, produced downwards at the base into 

 a short rather acute spur applied to the stem, green, glabrous. 

 Elowers few, in a forked cyme with sub-scorpioid branches, 

 yellow, sub-sessile. Sepals oval-obtuse, slightly produced down- 

 wards at the base like the leaves. Petals lanceolate, acute, 

 spreading. Eollicles swollen at the base on the inner side. 



In sandy places and on rocks. Very common, and generally 

 distributed, especially near the sea, though by no means confined 

 to its vicinity. It is reported as occurring in Orkney, but I have 

 not myself seen it there. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



This plant grows in large tufts ; when not in flower it bears much 

 resemblance to S. Anglicum, but the spur of the leaves being applied 

 to the stem will readily distinguish it when not in flower. The 

 leaves also are more narrowed towards the point, and commonly 

 smaller, rarely above \ inch long, though sometimes in the more 

 lax forms they attain \ inch. Plowers f inch across or more, 

 bright golden-yellow, arranged in a forked cyme like those of S. 

 Anglicum. Petals more than twice as long as the sepals, spreading, 

 slightly curved backwards. PoUicles at length spreading like a 

 star. Plant bright-green tinged with yellowish-red towards the 

 base. 



Biting Stone-crop, or Golden Moss. 



French, Sedum Acre. German, ScJiarfe Fettlienne. 



The common English names for this plant speak of its biting acrid qualities. In 

 country districts it is called Ginger, or Prick Madam ; and it is also known as Wall-Pepper. 

 Gerarde tells us that it was known in his day as Mousetail, or Jack-of-the-Butterie. 

 The bright-yellow starlike flowers of the Stone-crop are often seen covering cottage roofs 

 and old walls, and its biting taste is familiar to most country folks. In large doses it 

 is emetic and cathartic, and applied externally it produces blisters. In some scorbutic 

 diseases it is considered to be a beneficial remedy when properly and carefully used. 

 Pliny recommends it as a means of procuring sleep ; for which purpose he says it must 

 be wrapped in a black cloth, and placed under the pillow of the patient without his 

 knowing it, otherwise it will be ineffectual. 



