BITING STONECROP. IOO 



Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre). 



Of the eight British species of Sedum, and the two or three 

 additional kinds that have escaped from gardens and become 

 locally naturalized, this is the best known. Rocks and old 

 walls are its favourite resorts, the stems growing downwards 

 and curving outwards. The leaves are small, thick, produced 

 into a kind of spur at the base, and closely pressing the older 

 on the newer. The calyx is in one with five lobes, the corolla 

 consists of five distinct golden yellow petals : stamens ten, 

 with yellow anthers ; carpels five, united at their bases. 

 Flowers June and July. Another popular name for it is Wall 

 Pepper, both names being due to the acrid taste. 



The scientific name is from the Latin sedeo, to sit, from the 

 peculiar habit of the plant. 



Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), 



Although the Houseleek is not a true native of Britain it has 

 been so long established on old walls and the roofs of out-houses 

 that it is quite a familiar object in a country ramble. As its 

 scientific name (from semper, always, and vivum, fresh, green) 

 indicates, it dies hard, and alike endures frost and drought. 

 The story is told of one that a botanist tried hard for eighteen 

 months to dry for his herbarium, but failing in his object 

 planted it again, and it grew as though nothing had occurred 

 to interfere with its ordinary life. The leaves are borne on the 

 flowerless stems in the form of a rosette, the oldest flat, the 

 youngest erect ; thick, fleshy, the edges purple, tips sharply 

 pointed. Flowering stems with alternate leaves ; flowers dull 

 purple in cymes. Sepals twelve, petals twelve, stamens 

 twenty-four, but twelve of these are imperfect or aborted. 

 Flowers June and July. 



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