Sedum
| Sedum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Crassulaceae |
| Subfamily: | Sedoideae |
| Tribe: | Sedeae |
| Subtribe: | Sedinae |
| Genus: |
Sedum L. |
| Species | |
|
Many, see text & for more. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Many, see text & for more.
Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species updated to 470. They are leaf succulents found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, but extending into the southern hemisphere in Africa and South America. The plants vary from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have water-storing leaves. The flowers usually have five petals, seldom four or six. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals.
Various species formerly classified as Sedum are now in the segregate genera Hylotelephium and Rhodiola.
Well-known European Sedums are Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum dasyphyllum, Sedum reflexum (also known as Sedum rupestre) and Sedum hispanicum.
Sedum demonstrates a wide variation in chromosome numbers, and polyploidy is common. Chromosome number is an important taxonomic feature. ('t Hart 1985) Linnaeus originally described 16 species of European Sedum. There are now thought to be approximately 55 European species.
Now in Dudleya:
Now in Hylotelephium:
Now in Rhodiola:
Sedum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Grey Chi. In particular, Sedum spathulifolium is the host plant of the endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly of San Mateo County, California.
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Wikipedia