English: Lesser caucasian-stonecrop.
Synonym: Sedum stoloniferum.
Region: west Asia; Caucasus, Iran; naturalised in Switzerland, northern Prealps
Habitat: stony soils in meadows and woodlands in the middle and lower mountain zones; elevations from 600 to 2000 metres; moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -15°c; prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position; very drought tolerant; grows on a wall or in crevices in a rock garden.
Content: alkaloids, sedine, sedamine; tannins, cyanogenic compounds; flavanoids
Ecology: aggressive neophyte, out-competing native grassland species; immune to the predations of rabbits.
Use: food, leaves, raw or cooked, as a pickle; crushed leaves as a leaven for yoghourts and cheese; medicine; green roofing systems; ornamental, ground cover.
BotanyHerb; evergreen; perennial; succulent, mat-forming; 20 cm tall; propagates through its stolons.
Root: slender, fibrous; long, creeping, cord-like rhizome.
Stem: mats of prostrate short, sterile shoots; 2 to 3 cm long.
Inflorescence: erect blooming stems; 17 to 35 cm tall.
Flowers: pink.
Pollination: by insects.
TaxonomyClosely related to
Phedimus spurius.