SEMPERVIVOIDES (Fischer ex M. von Bieberstein) H. Ohba, 1978

Synonyms :

Sedum sempervivoides  Fischer ex M. von Bieberstein (1819) / Rosularia sempervivoides  (Fischer ex M. von Bieberstein) Borissova (1939) / Pseudorosularia sempervivoides  (Fischer ex M. von Bieberstein) Gurgenidze (1978)  

Sedum sempervivum  DC (1828)

Sedum divaricatum  Schlechtendal ex Ledebour (1843)

Sedum kurdistanicum  Fröderström (1939)

Distribution : Turkey (Anatolia), Georgia, Armenia, Caucasus, northern Iran; dry stony or rocky slopes, screes, 1200 - 2900 m.

Description (according to IHSP, 2003) :

Finely glandular-pubescent annuals or biennials with cord-like roots.

Rosettes usually flat, ± 3 - 5 cm in diameter.

Leaves ovate to obovate-cuneate, flat, fleshy, sharply acuminate, 1 - 3 x 0.7 - 1.5 cm, pubescent, purplish.

Inflorescences terminal, erect, usually simple, robust, 7 - 25 cm, lax, 30- to 150-flowered, as corymbose panicles or corymbiform, to 12 cm in diameter, pedicels ± 4 - 7mm.

Flowers : Sepals basally slightly connate, triangular, acute, 2 - 4 x 1 - mm, fleshy, red, petals 6 - 8 mm, basally connate, deep red or scarlet.

Cytology : 2n = 14

The characteristic fiery-red flowers of P. sempervivoides are quite unique in the family and only parallelled in a few species of Crassula and Kalanchoe.