ACCOUNT OF GENUS SEDUM AS FOUND IN CULTIVATION. 189 



Its large size, pale colour, and absence of the runner-like shoots 

 which are produced by strong plants of 5. hirsuium, give it a distinct 

 appearance. 



82. Sedum Lydium Boissier (fig. 106). 



SXydhimBoissier, "Diagnoses Plant. Nov.,"ser. 1.8,17, 1843. Boissier, 

 " Flor. Orientalis," 2, 782. Masters in Card. Chron., 1878, ii. 685. 



A dainty little plant, especially in exposure, when its linear leaves 

 assume a bright-red tint. Easily known among the small linear- 



FiG. 106. — 5. Lydium Boissier. 



leaved, white-flowered Sedums by its dense, flat inflorescence borne 

 on a comparatively tall stem. 



Description. — A tiny evergreen perennial, forming a bright-green mat, 

 mostly tinged red. Stems rooting below, with many ascending branches ; barren 

 shoots I inch high, densely leafy above ; flowering shoots 2 to 4 inches, often 

 branched below, with less-crowded similar leaves. Leaves terete, linear, sessile, 

 green, reddish and minutely pimpled at the tip, J inch long. Inflorescence 

 compact, flattish, J inch across, sparingly leafy. Buds ovate. Flowers J inch 

 across, longer than the pedicels. Sepals oblong, blunt, fleshy, green tipped red. 

 Petals white, ij times the sepals, lanceolate, rather acute, concave. Stamens 

 equalling the petals, filaments white, anthers purple. Scales bright yellow, 

 cuneate, notched, twice as long as broad. Carpels white, soon turning red^ 

 erect, shorter than the stamens ; nearly erect and bright red in fruit. 



Flowers June. Hardy. 



Habitat. — Asia Minor. 



This tiny plant has been long in cultivation, and is frequent in 

 gardens, sometimes under the misnomer of S. lividum. It is distinct 

 and constant, and no varieties are recorded. 



