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 refiexed tips. It 

 comes nearest the Sempervivoides group of Sedum from the Caucasus 



Fig. 166.— 5. 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. of 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 un branched below, emitting 

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

 with a few small bracts resembling 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 J 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, Jto-5^ inch thick, 



