ACCOUNT OF GENUS SEDUM AS FOUND IN CULTIVATION. 39 



4. Sedum longicaule Praeger (fig. 10). 

 5. longicaule Praeger in Journ. of Bot., 54, 39, 1917. 



A dioecious Rhodiola of remarkable stature, characterized by 

 its very tall stems (2-3 feet long) clothed with long tapering entire 

 leaves, which diminish towards the base of the stem into minute 

 scales. It most resembles a much overgrown 5. Kirilowii, but the 

 leaves and stems are twice as long, and the flowers (of which the 

 female alone is known) present points of difference. 



Description. — A glabrous herbaceous perennial, without barren shoots. 

 Rootstock massive, resembling that of S. Kirilowii. Stems 2-3 feet long, erect, 

 round, smooth, reddish, unbranched, J inch thick, clothed with leaves throughout. 

 Leaves alternate, many, 2-3J inches long, J inch wide at base, sessile, entire, 

 linear-elongate, rounded or auricled at the base, tapering to an acute point, 

 inserted at right angles to the stem ; on face dark green with a whitish midrib, 

 on back pale and rather glaucous with the midrib very prominent ; smaller and 

 fewer near the inflorescence ; decreasing in size towards the rhizome till they 

 become mere minute scales. Inflorescence about 2 inches across, flattish or convex, 

 dense ; bracts few, narrow. Female flower : — mostly 5- (frequently 6-, some- 

 times 4- or 7-) parted ; calyx cup-shaped, fleshy, green, the lobes distant, tapering, 

 fleshy, blunt, about equalling the tube ; petals erect, linear-tapering, distant, 

 blunt, green, subterete, i^ times the sepals ; scales small,- red-purple, slightly 

 longer than broad, rounded at apex, less than J the sepals ; carpels green, stout, 

 about twice the petals, with very short spreading styles. 



Flowers June. Hardy. 



Habitat. — Unknown, but to judge from its affinities central or 

 eastern Asia. I found the plant in the garden of Mr. H. J. Elwes, 

 F.R.S., who is not certain whence it was obtained. Very possibly 

 it originated from seed collected by one of the recent explorers of 

 western China. The male plant is as yet unknown. 



The plant half-grown, with its narrow leaves with white midribs, 

 has much the appearance of some of the Euphorbias. Named from 

 its remarkably tall stem. 



5. Sedum rotundatum Hemsley (fig. 11). 



S. rotundatum Hemsley in Kew Bulletin, 1896, 210. 



Illustration. — Hooker, " Icon. Plant," tab. 2469. 



A species well marked by its robust growth, broad round entire 

 leaves, and red stems and flowers, combined with a characteristic 

 thick Rhodiola rootstock. The long linear claw of the petal below 

 the insertion of the stamen is peculiar and unusual. 



Description. — A smooth herbaceous perennial. Rootstock very thick, 

 erect, elongate, blackish, clothed (at least in nature) with the blackish straw- 

 like remains of old stems. Stems several, rather stout, simple, erect, about 

 6 inches high, J inch thick, bright red especially below. Leaves broadly obovate 

 to orbicular, entire, rounded at apex, very shortly stalked, about ij inch long 

 by I inch broad, dark green with a silvery sheen. Inflorescence lax, rather 

 few-flowered. Flowers usually 5-parted, dark red. Male flower : — sepals 

 ovate-oblong to deltoid, blunt, free part ^l inch long ; petals ^J inch long, 

 linear below the insertion of the stamens, oblong blunt above that point ; stamens 

 J inch long, the epipetalous ones adnate in lower third ; scales roundish-quadrate 

 carpels ^-\ inch long, yellowish, with short styles. 



