246 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



117. Sedum acre Linn. (fig. 143). 



5. acre Linn., "Species Plantarum," 432, 1753. Masters in Card. 

 Chron. 1878, ii. 684. 



Illustrations. — Sowerby, " English Bot." (ed. 3), pi. 532 ; Reichenbach, 

 " Flor. German.," 23, tab. 51 ; DeCandolle, " Plantes Grasses," tab. 117 ; "Flora 



Fig. 143. — S. acre Linn. 



Danica," tab. 1457 ; Curtis, " Flor. Londin.," 1,114; Cusin and Ansberque, " Herb. 

 Flore fran9aise, Crassul.," tab. 27; Tenore, "Flor. Nap." tab. 229; Plenck, 

 " Icones Plant. Medicalium," tab. 351. 



S. acre when in flower cannot be confounded with any other of 

 the cultivated species, its large yellow blossoms and flattish triangular 

 leaves, very broad at the base, easily distinguishing it. 5. sexangulare, 

 which it resembles in size and colour, has linear leaves and smaller 

 flowers ; 5. anglicum, which it somewhat resembles when out of 

 bloom, has leaves broadest near the middle, not broadest at the base. 



Description. — A small creeping evergreen forming a mat. Stem creeping 

 and rooting, much branched. Barren branches erect, ^ to 2 inches high. Leaves 

 alternate, imbricate, green, smooth, ascending, ovoid-triangular, blunt, slightly 

 spurred, y^ ^o T^a i^^h long by Jg wide at base, having an acrid taste. Inflorescence 

 a short cyme of 2 to 3 branches each with 2 to 3 flowers, and a flower in the fork. 

 Buds conical. Flowers \ inch across. Sepals leaf-like, green, fleshy, lanceolate, 

 blunt. Petals bright yellow, lanceolate, acute, wide-spreading, twice the sepals. 



