Sempervivum Sempervivum, L.

10. S. arachnoideum L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 465 (1753).

Rosettes small, compact, crowded, more or less covered above by an arachnoid veil of long, flexuous, interwoven hairs, which are the greatly elongate apical cilia of the leaves. Leaves 7-1 2x3 -5 mm, oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, apiculate, pubescent. Flowering stem 4-12 cm; cauline leaves red-tipped, with an apical tuft of arachnoid hairs. Flowers usually 8- to 10-merous; petals 7- 1 0x3 mm, broadly lanceolate or rhombic, bright reddish-pink with a purple mid-vein; filaments purple. Calcifuge. • Alps, Appennini ,Pyrenees; (?) Cordillera Cantdbrica. Au G a G eH eH s It. Very variable. Two rather ill-defined subspecies may be recognized; they have some geographical basis but show considerable overlap, and intermediates are common.