SEDUM MAGELLENSE

Family:- CRASSULACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Oreosedum magellense

Meaning:- Sedum (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, reference to the plants habit of ''sitting'' on rocks etc.

Magellense (L) From Monte Majella, Italy.

General description:- Glabrous perennial

Stems:-

1) Flowering 5-20 cm. non-flowering shoots ascending, rooting at the lower nodes,

forming tutfs or loose mats.

Leaves:-

1) 6-10 mm, alternate or opposite, obovate-oblong to broadly spatulate, spreading,

flat, obtuse. bright green.

Flowers:-

1) 5-merous, pedicellate; inflorescence simple elongate, raceme-like with 5-15

flowers.

2) Petals c. 4 mm, lanceolate, acute, whitish.

3) Stamens usually 10,

4) Anthers red.

5) Style short but distinct

Fruit:-

1) Ripe follicles erect, obtuse, shortly mucronate, whitish.

Key features:-

1) Flowers 5- to 9-merous.

2) Styles c. 0·25 mm.

3) Ripe follicles erect or slightly divergent

$) Leaves distinctly flattened, at least on the upper side.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Damp, calcareous screes, rock ledges, gorges, at high altitude. 1400-

2200 m.

Distribution:- Mountains throughout Greek mainland and Peloponnisos, Italy,

Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia. On Crete confined to the three main massifs.

Flowering time:- May-Aug.

Photos by:- Georgi Kunev