SEDUM TRISTRIATUM

Family:- CRASSULACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Helladia tristriata, Oreosedum tristriatum.

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

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

Tristriatum (L) With three stripes or ridges.

General description:- Glandular-pubescent perennial, with tufted-like non-flowering

shoots.

Stem:-

1) Flowering stems 2-10 cm, ascending, arising in the axils of the lower leaves of

the rosette.

Leaves:-

1) Rosette, oblong-spathulate, almost flat.

2) Cauline, obovate, semiterete, alternate.

Flowers:-

1) 5(6)-merous, borne in groups of 4-7(-15) in a lax cyme on each flowering shoot.

2) Sepals 1-2 mm, ovate-triangular.

3) Petals narrowly ovate-elliptical, aristate, pale pink with darker stripes, or white.

4) Stamens 10.

Fruit:-

1) Follicles whitish, erect.

Key features:-

1) At least the cauline leaves terete or semi-terete.

2) Peduncles arising from the axils of rosette-leaves.

3) Sepals ovate-triangular.

4) Follicles erect.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs, stony dolines (600-)1100-2300 m.

Distribution:- A Greek endemic originally found by Heldreich in 1846 in Lefka Ori

where it is quite common, also found on Mts Taigetos and Parnonas in the S.

Peloponnisos.

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Steve Lenton