Sedum acre L. f. congestum
Saelan (several plants on the right) and typical S. acre (one plant on the left) (Finland, Lohja,
Marttila, 1991).
– Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimens).
– The
above form, originally described from Finland, differs (according to my
observations) from typical S. acre (Crassulaceae): (i) the plant
is smaller, (ii) red colour is
present in the plant (vs. mostly lacking), (iii) the leaves are more tightly packed,
(iv) the leaves are fairly distinctly arranged in (diagonal) rows
(especially in sterile shoots), and (v) the leaves are slightly less obtuse.
This kind of plants have been met with in places in Lohja (SW Finland), especially on
limestone outcrops where it prefers to grow on more or less bare rock surface. S. acre f.
pentagonum Pacher may be a synonym of this form which may deserve a higher
taxonomic rank.
It can be seen that the plants have developed very slender
innovations as they were dried in normal room temperature; it took a rather long
time till the succulent leaves finally dried up!
Created August 29, 2004.