Jovibarba Opiz

7. Jovibarba Opiz 1

Perennials, like Sempervivum in habit, but with 6-merous (rarely 5- or 7-merous), campanulate flowers, and erect, pale yellow petals, keeled dorsally and fringed with glandular hairs. (Diopogon Jordan & Fourr.)

In this genus, instriking contrast to Sempervivum , natural hybrids have never been reported. The pattern of variation is, however, at times suggestive of introgression; and, since all species appear to possess the same chromosome number, the possibility of hybridization cannot be excluded.

1 Plant without stolons; petals ciliate but scarcely fimbriate; styles 2 mm 5. heuffelii 1 Plant with short, fragile stolons arising from the lower leaf-axils of the rosette; petals fimbriate; styles c. 4 mm

2 Flowering stem 18 cm or less; cauline leaves long-acuminate, narrower than the rosette-leaves

3 Rosette-leaves yellowish-green, with glandular-pubescent surface 1. allionii

3 Rosette-leaves fresh green, reddish towards the apex, with glandular hairs only on the margins 2. arenaria

2 Flowering stem 20-30 cm; cauline leaves at least as wide as the rosette-leaves

4 Rosette-leaves widest at or below the middle, patent or erect, forming an open rosette 3. hirta

4 Rosette-leaves widest above the middle, incurved, giving a closed, globose rosette 4. sobolifera