iqZ JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



85. Sedum oxypetalum H. B. & K. (fig. 109). 



5. oxypetalum Humboldt, Bonpland and Kunth, " Nov. Gen. et Sp.," 6, 

 45, 1823. Hemsley, " Biol. Centr. Amer., Bot.," 1, 397. " N. Amer. 

 Flora," 22, 69. 



The most tree-like of the shrubby Sedums, forming a trunk-like 

 stem which, in old plants, is several inches thick at the base and covered 

 with rough,' brown bark. The bush tends to assume in greenhouses 

 a rounded form and a height of 2 to 3 feet. Distinguished by its 



Fig. 108. — 5. Alberti Regel. 



arborescent habit and smaUish flat terminal cymes of duU red starlike 

 flowers. 



Description.— A glabrous, erect, sub-shrub. 2 to 3 feet high. Stem stout erect, 

 much branched, lower part very thick, bare, grey, rough. Leaves flat, fleshy, 

 alternate, green, i to li inch long, obovate-spathulate. rounded or retuse at apex, 

 attenuate below, scarcely stalked, slightly spurred. Cymes terminal, lax. flat, 

 very leafy, i to 2 inches across, of 3 forked^branches with flowers m the forks, the 

 bracts r^embling the leaves. Buds lanceolate, ribbed, bluntly pomted, rather 

 dark red. Flowers star-like, i inch across, sessUe. dull red, with a strong scent 

 of honey. Sepals small, green, fleshy, acute, tapering from a broad base, unequal. 

 Petals Unear-lanceolate, very acute, patent, 4 times the sepals, flesh-coloured, 

 pale in the upper part. Stamens shorter than the petals, spreadmg, filaments 

 red anthers buff. Scales yellowish, cuneate, \ the carpels. Carpels spreading. 

 red, shorter than the stamens, spreading widely in fruit ; styles erect, slender, 

 yellow. 



Flowers June-July (gentle heat) ; July-August (cold frame). Not 

 hardy. 



Habitat. — Central Mexico. 



Originally described, nearly a century ago, from specimens in 

 Mexican gardens. It has been in cultivation in England for at least 



