Orpine
Scientific name: Sedum telephium L.
Diagnostic features
Glabrous perennial.
Stems erect, to 60cm.
Leaves alternate, 2-8cm, dorsiventral, serrate.
Flowers in rounded panicle.
Petals 5, 3-5mm, reddish-purple, rarely white.
Chromosome number: 2n=24, 26.
Habitat
Native; woods, hedgebanks and rocky places.
Distribution
Local throughout most of Britain, only as escape in Ireland and parts of Britain.
Distribution of subspecies unknown; the leaf characters are of doubtful value and the sspp. need reappraisal.
If the follicle character is reliable Sedum telephium fabaria is much the commoner (or perhaps the only one) in British Isles.
This species is keyed out on Page 2821 in the Text Key.
Key to the subspecies:
a. Follicles with groove on back; leaves usually sessile, tapering to ± truncate base.........................................Sedum telephium telephium.
b. Follicles not grooved; leaves tapering to cuneate base, the lower often petiolate........................................ Sedum telephium fabaria.
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