Petrosedum rupestre, also known as reflexed stonecrop,[1] Jenny's stonecrop,[2] blue stonecrop, stone orpine, prick-madam and trip-madam,[3] is a species of perennial succulent flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae, native to northern, central, and southern Europe.

Petrosedum rupestre
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Petrosedum
Species:
P. rupestre
Binomial name
Petrosedum rupestre
(L.) P.V.Heath
Synonyms
List
  • Sedum rupestre L.
  • Petrosedum reflexum (L.) Grulich
  • Petrosedum rupestre subsp. reflexum (L.) Velayos
  • Sedum albescens Haw.
  • Sedum caesium Boreau ex Pérard
  • Sedum collinum Willd.
  • Sedum crassicaule Link
  • Sedum cristatum Schrad.
  • Sedum fragile Dumort.
  • Sedum glaucum Haw.
  • Sedum glaucum Sm.
  • Sedum graniticum Pérard
  • Sedum luteum Garsault
  • Sedum minus Haw.
  • Sedum nutans Haw.
  • Sedum recurvatum Willd.
  • Sedum reflexum L.
  • Sedum septangulare Haw.
  • Sedum virens Aiton
  • Sedum virescens Willd.

Description

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Petrosedum rupestre plants are typically up to 10 cm high, with sprawling stems and stiff foliage resembling spruce branches, with softer tissue. The leaves are frequently blue-gray to gray but range to light greens and yellows; the flowers are yellow. Like many Sedum species, it has a prostrate, spreading habit.

Cultivation

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Petrosedum rupestre is a popular ornamental plant, grown in gardens, containers, and as houseplants. It is drought-tolerant. There are named cultivars with variegated (multi-colored) leaves. Through vegetative cloning it is propagated from cuttings.[4]

This sedum is prone to fasciation (cristate forms), which produces attractive cactus-like forms, with irregular curves. However it reverts easily, so all normal offshoots need to be removed quickly to maintain the cristate form.[5]

Petrosedum rupestre is occasionally used as a salad leaf or herb in Europe, including the United Kingdom.[6] It is said to have a slightly astringent or sour taste.

References

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  1. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ^ NRCS. "Sedum reflexum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. ^ "trip-madam". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  4. ^ Horvath, Brent. "The Plant Lover's Guide to Sedums".Timber Press Inc., 2014, p. 113
  5. ^ Stephenson, Ray (1994). Sedum. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-238-2.
  6. ^ "Sedum rupestre - L. Crooked Yellow Stonecrop". Plants for a Future. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
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