284 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL .SOCIETY, 



A very variable plant, inconstant as regards size, hairiness, colour, 

 and the shape of its leaves, and to a less degree all parts of its flowers ; 

 but always recognizable by its biennial duration, Sempervivum-like 

 leaf-rosettes, large, paniculate inflorescence, and numerous small 

 flowers with five stamens and erect petals having refleJced tips. It 

 comes nearest the Sempervivoides group of Sedum from the Caucasus 



Fig. 166. — S. pilosum M. B. 



region, and is best placed there, though the flowers are different, 

 especially as regards the number of stamens. I have discussed some 

 of its forms in Journ. oj Bot., 57, 55, 1919. 



Description. — Biennial, usually glabrous. Roots fibrous. Stem in first 

 year extremely short, densely leafy, in second year elongate (6 to 12 inches) , erect, 

 more or less distantly leafy, round, smooth, usually unbranched below, emitting 

 above alternate, sub-erect or spreading, simple or once or twice forked branches 

 with a few small bracts resembhng the leaves, each ultimate branch bearing a 

 simple raceme of flowers without bracts, and lengthening more or less as flower- 

 ing proceeds. Branches all attaining about the same level, their upper parts 

 smooth or finely papillose. Pedicels i to J inch long, erecto-patent, rarely patent, 

 often papillose. Inflorescence 2 to 4 inches broad, 2 to 4 inches long from the lowest 

 branching. Leaves alternate, in first year forming a rather lax rosette about as 

 long as broad, the outer ones patent, the inner erect; very fleshy, | to -^ inch thick, 



