Sedum telephium, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 358

4. S. telephium L. , Sp. P/. 430(1753) .

Perennial, with tuberous roots. Stems 15-80 cm, usually simple. Leaves 2-7 cm, suborbicular to narrow-oblong. Flowers 5-merous, in large, dense, terminal corymbs. Petals 3-5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acute. Stamens 10, equalling or slightly exceeding the petals. Follicles erect; styles rather short. 2n — 24, 36, 48 (other numbers reported from garden plants). Almost throughout Europe. All except Az BI Cr Fa?Gr Is Sb Si Tu.

A polymorphic complex which may be divided in Europe into 4 subspecies. Intermediates, some of them garden hybrids subsequently naturalized, are not uncommon, and the considerable confusion in taxonomy and nomenclature does not yet permit precise distributional data for the subspecies to be given. Typical members of subspp. (b), (c) and (d) infra appear to be characterized by chromosome numbers of 2«=24, 48, and 48 respectively, but no counts are available for plants with intermediate characters; counts of 36 and 48 have been reported for (a). A cytological study of intermediate plants might eventually provide a basis for the elevation of the subspecies to specific rank.

1 Leaves ±ovate, sessile, often amplexicaul, usually subentire; flowers usually greenish- or yellowish-white

2 Stems 30-80 cm, erect; leaves 5-10 cm, oblong-ovate, green or glaucous (c) subsp. maximum

2 Stems decumbent or procumbent, 15-40cm; leaves 2 -4 cm, suborbicular, pruinose-glaucous (d) subsp. ruprechtii

1 Leaves ± oblong, usually strongly dentate, not amplexicaul, the lower ones, at least, cuneate at the base; flowers usually purplish-red or lilac

3 Upper leaves truncate at the base, sessile; follicles dorsally grooved (a) subsp. telephium

3 Upper leaves cuneate at the base, sometimes stalked; follicles not grooved (b) subsp. fabaria