CRASSULACE^ 141 



Stamens as many or twice as many, inserted with the petals at base 

 of calyx. Ovary superior. Carpels 3-5 or more, usually quite 

 distinct. Ovules numerous, attached to the ventral suture. 

 A large family spread over the greater part of the globe. 



SEDUM L. 



Succulent herbs, sometimes woody at the base, with scattered 

 leaves, sometimes opposite or whorled, especially at the base or on 

 barren stems. Sepals 4-6, usually 5. Petals as many. Stamens 

 twice as many. Carpels as many as the petals, each with an entire 

 or emarginate scale at the base, and with several seeds. 



A large and widely spread genus, especially in Central and 

 Southern Europe and Central Asia. 



Sedum album L. White Stonecrop. (Plate XVI.) 



Stock creeping and procumbent, with short, barren stems, and 

 erect, flowering branches, 4-6 inches high, glabrous. Leaves oblong 

 or cylindrical. Flowers usually pure white, but sometimes pale 

 pink, numerous, in beautiful terminal cymes. Sepals short, oval, 

 obtuse. Petals oblong and obtuse. 



Rocks, walls, etc., very common from the plains to the sub- 

 alpine region. July, August. 



Distribution. Europe, Western Asia and Siberia, N. Africa. 

 British. 



Sedum villosum L. Hairy Sedum. 



An annual, with erect, simple stems, 4 to 5 inches high. The 

 upper portion of the plant more or less covered with short, viscid 

 hairs. Leaves alternate or scattered, oblong or cylindrical. Flowers 

 few, pale rose-colour, in a loose terminal cyme. Sepals green, ovate. 

 Petals ovate, twice as long as the sepals. 



Marshes and turf bogs, and by rivulets in the mountains. Extends 

 in Switzerland up to the Alpine region, but is local. June, July. 



Distribution. Central and Northern Europe, Greenland, Algeria. 

 British. 



Sedum atratum L. (S. rubens Wulf.). 



Stem 1-3 inches high, ascending or erect, simple or branched at 

 the base, glabrous like the whole plant, often dotted or streaked 

 with red. Leaves club-shaped, fleshy, obtuse, somewhat flat on 

 upper side. Flowers yellowish or greenish white, in a terminal, 

 often unilateral, cyme. Calyx reddish brown ; capsule dusky 

 purple, and the whole plant reddish when older. Annual or biennial. 



Alpine rocks and dry pastures, 4300-9000 feet, or higher. July, 

 August. 



Distribution. Carpathians ; Eastern, Central, and Western Alps ; 

 Jura, Pyrenees, Balkan provinces. 



