Sedum Sedum, L.

25. S. album L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 432 (1753).

Glabrous, laxly caespitose perennial with creeping, woody stems which bear short nonflowering shoots and erect flowering stems 5-18 cm high. Leaves 4- 12 mm, subterete but somewhat flattened on upper surface, obtuse, scarcely spurred, varying from linear-cylindrical to ovoidglobose, usually reddish, patent or suberect, alternate. Flowers 5-merous, shortly stalked, in a freely branched, rather dense, subcorymbose cyme. Sepals united at the base. Petals 2-4 mm, subacute, white (rarely pink). Stamens 10. Follicles pink, erect. 2« = 68, 136. Europe, except for parts of the north and east. All except Az Fa Is Rs (N, C, E) Sb; only as naturalized alien in Hb.

A very variable plant, especially in size and shape of leaf. Some segregates, especiallyS. micranthumBast., EssaiFI. Maine Loire 167 (1809), with short stems, small flowers and rather short leaves (S. W. & S. C. Europe), and S. athoum DC. , Prodr., 3: 407 (1828), with short, subglobose leaves and more acute petals (Greece and adjoining regions) are sufficiently striking to have been given specific or subspecific rank, but intermediate plants are so numerous as to make their diagnosis impossible.