CRASSULACEAE

STONECROP FAMILY

Annual to subshrubs, fleshy
Leaves generally simple, generally basal and cauline, alternate or opposite, generally reduced upward
Inflorescence: generally cyme, generally bracted
Flower: sepals generally 3–5, generally ± free; petals generally 3–5, ± free or fused; stamens = to >> sepals, free or epipetalous; pistils generally 3–5, simple (sometimes fused at base), ovary 1-chambered, placenta 1, parietal, ovules 1–many, style 1
Fruit: follicles generally 3–5
Seeds 1–many, small
Genera in family: ± 30 genera, ± 1500 species: ± worldwide, especially dry temp; many cultivated for ornamental. Family description and generic key by Melinda F. Denton and Reid Moran.

PARVISEDUM

Melinda F. Denton

Annual, small, generally branched near base, glabrous
Leaves cauline, alternate, early deciduous, oblong-elliptic to ovoid; tip rounded to obtuse
Inflorescence: flowers solitary or in 0–3-branched cyme
Flower: sepals 5; petals 5, linear to narrowly ovate, slightly fused at base, yellow, midrib often reddish; stamens 5 or 10; pistils 5, oblong, stigmas ± 0.1 mm diam
Fruits erect to curved out, glabrous or glandular
Seed 1 per follicle, 0.7–2 mm, elliptic, brown
Species in genus: 4 species: CA
Etymology: (Latin: small Sedum)
Recent taxonomic note: *This genus now treated as Sedella which has priority over Parvisedum. [Eggli, U. 1992 Bradleya 10:83]

Native

P. leiocarpum (H. Sharsm.) R.T. Clausen

LAKE COUNTY STONECROP

Plant 1–3.5 cm, generally simple
Leaves 2–4.5 mm, ± 1–2 mm wide
Flower: sepals 0.6–1 mm, ± 0.5 mm wide; petals 2.8–3.8 mm, 0.5 mm wide; stamens 5, anthers ± 0.2 mm, yellow
Fruit 1.5–2 mm, erect, slightly papillate
Seed 1.2–1.5 mm
Ecology: Dry vernal pools, rocky depressions
Elevation: 500–600 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Inner North Coast Ranges (Lake Co.)
Recent taxonomic note: *Sedella leiocarpa H. Sharsm.