Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses

SHOWY STONECROP

File Size: 70 KB

Sedum pulchellum Michx.

Miami County, Kansas

Annual or perennial

Height: 2.5 to 9 inches

Family: Crassulaceae - Stonecrop Family

Flowering Period: May, June

Stems:

Plants pale green or yellowish green, succulent. Stem erect or ascending.

Leaves:

Alternate, thick, often round in cross section, sessile; blade linear-oblong to spatulate (especially basal leaves in juvenile forms), 1/5 to 1 1/5 inch long, 1/16 to 1/5 inch wide.

Inflorescences:

Usually cymes, sometimes spikes or thyrses, usually secund, with 2--7 radiating, plus or minus horizontal branches.

Flowers:

Sepals 4-7, green, oblong to long-triangular, 1/12 to 1/4 inch long, to 1/16 inch wide; petals 4-7, pink or purple to white, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate or elliptic, 1/6 to 1/3 inch, distinct or slightly connate basally; stamens 8(--14), those directly in front of petals usually fused to bases of petals; anthers dark red or purple; pistils 4-7, distinct.

Fruits:

Follicles, spreading somewhat but not perpendicular to pedicel at maturity, 1/6 to 2/5 inch; style 1/25 to 1/8 inch; seeds few, ellipsoid, tiny.

Habitat:

Shallow soil over limestone, sandstone, or chert in woods, glades, prairies, and on cliffs.

Distribution:

South 1/2 of the east 1/4 of Kansas

Origin:

Native

Comments:

Sedum, to sit, alluding to the habit, and pulchellum, beautiful and little.

Showy stonecrop flowers