VARIEGATA (S. Watson) Moran, 1953

Synonyms :

Sedum variegatum  S.Watson (1876) / Hasseanthus variegatus  (S.Watson) Rose (1903)

Subgenus Hasseanthus

Distribution : USA (California: San Diego County: S South Coast, S Peninsular Ranges), Mexico (NW Baja California); dry hills, mesas, to 300 m, not frequent.

Description (according to IHSP, 2003) :

Stems ovoid, ± globose to oblong, 1 - 3 x 0.3 - 1.5 cm.

Rosettes with 4 - 12 leaves.

Leaves oblanceolate to spatulate, acute to obtuse, basally attenuate into a slender petiole, 1 - 7 x 0.3 - 1.1 cm, vernal.

Inflorescence : Scape 5 - 20 cm, red-striate, inflorescence usually with 2 – 3 simple scorpioid branches, these ascending, 2 - 15 cm, with 3 - 11 flowers.

FIowers (4- to) 5-merous, Sepals triangular-ovate or oblong-ovate, acute to ± obtuse, erect, 2 - 3 (-7) mm, green or yellowish, petals elliptic-lanceolate, acute,  5 - 7 x 2.5 - 3.5 mm, pale to deep yellow, sometimes spotted with red and often with red or violet dorsal midstripe, tube ± 0.5 mm.

Flowering time : April to May.

Cytology : n = 17

More closely related to D. multicaulis, but usually smaller and with fewer leaves that are flattened and basally normally attenuate (Moran 1950).

It forms natural hybrids with D. attenuata ssp. orcuttii (Moran 1951b).