SEDUM CRETICUM

Family:- CRASSULACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Sedum hierapetrae.

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

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

Creticum (L) From Crete, Cretan.

General description:- An annual or biennial with 5-8 cm. long shoots, slightly

hairy, glandular.

Stem:-

1) 3-15(-20) cm, erect, usually simple, or branched from near the base, glandular-

pubescent or glabrous.

Leaves:-

1) Up to 4 mm, alternate, mostly in a basal rosette, oblong-spatula-shaped,

glabrous, flat, concentrated toward base.

Flowers:-

1) 5(6)-merous, on short pedicels, in a narrow, densely glandular-pubescent panicle

which occupies most of the stem.

2) Petals 5-7 mm, lanceolate, acute, greenish-white, tinged with pink.

3) Stamens 10.

Fruit:-

1) Follicles erect, pubescent.

Key features:-

1) Leaves alternate, pubescent, oblong-spathulate, flat at least on upper surface.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, hollows and rock debris. 0-900(-1600) m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic, fairly widespread across Crete but more common at

higher altitudes.

Flowering time:- May- June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton