AUSTRALE Rose, 1903

Type : E.W.Nelson 3707, collected on the volcano of Santa Maria, Guatemala, January 24, 1897.

Distribution : Guatemala

Description (by 't Hart & Bleij in IHSP, 2003) :

Glabrous perennial subshrubs with procumbent tuberculate stems, rooting at the nodes.

Leaves densely imbricate, alternate, obtuse, terete, ± 6,5 mm.

Inflorescences short compact corymbs.

FIowers 5-merous, sepals broadly sessile, obtuse, ± 3,5 mm, petals mucronate, reddish-yellow, ± 7 mm.

Note :

1. Charles Uhl wrote: "Sedum australe is often confused with S. oaxacanum, but it differs from the latter in its linear, terete leaves and its reddish yellow flowers with mucronate petal tips." (Rhodora 87, 1985)

2. The chromosome number of S. australe is not known. The number indicated by 't Hart & Bleij most likely refers to a polyploid form of S. oaxacanum, namely a plant collected in the region of the type locality of S. oaxacanum, not from Guatemala, the habitat of S. australe. (See Uhl in Rhodora 87, 1985.)

3. S. australe does not seem to be in cultivation. Plants with this name usually are S. oaxacanum.