PALMERI  Watson, 1882

Synonyms :

Sedum palmeri  ssp. emarginatum  R.T.Clausen (1981)

Sedum palmeri  ssp. rubromarginatum  R.T.Clausen (1981)

Sedum compressum  Rose, 1909

Distribution : Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León); naturalized in Italy.

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

Glabrous perennial subshrubs with several flexuous stems 15 – 25 cm tall.

Leaves alternate, narrowly spatulate, broadly obovate, pseudopetiolate-obovate in the lower part, obtuse, smooth or finely mamillate, glaucous, 10 – 30 mm; flowering branches erect.

Inflorescences panicles or lax corymbs, bracts subovate.

Flowers 5- to 7-merous, pedicellate, sepals broadly sessile, unequal, oblong, subacute, 4 – 5.5 mm, petals basally slightly connate, oblong, subotuse, broadly mucronate, orange-yellow, 6 – 7 mm.

Cytology : 2n = 68, 70, 136

Note :

't Hart & Bleij are not correct in listing S. compressum as a separate species instead of including it in S. palmeri. Uhl (Rhodora, US, 82, 1980) considers it to be no more than a tetraploid subspecies of S. palmeri. "Most tetraploids are a bit smaller than most diploids, but the differences seem not sufficient to warrant status as a separate species."

See also : Sedum palmeri by Marco Cristini

Sedum palmeri, habitat, Mexico :

Photos Gerhard Köhres

Plants in cultivation :

Photo Noelene Tomlinson

Photos Dagmar Petrlikowa

Sedum palmeri 'Guatemalan Mini' 
Published by Ray Stepehenson in Sedum Society Newsletter 90:90-94. 

The original plant in UK was said to have been bought in a Guatemalan Market Place, hence the name. It is somewhat misleading as the plant has been found growing in Mexico.

Photos Margrit Bischofberger