Family: Crassulaceae
live-forever, witch's-moneybags
[Sedum purpureum (L.) Schult., more...]
Botancial Illustration
Robert H. Read
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Sedum: from Latin sedo, "to sit," in reference to the manner in which some species attach themselves to stones or walls
Plants: erect, perennial, 8"-24" tall forb, succulent; stems tufted, unbranched
Leaves: alternate or opposite, mostly elliptical, flat, often with course teeth
Flowers: white to pink drying to a rusty brown, 5-parted, 1/3" wide; inflorescence a 1 1/2"- 4" rounded, many-branched cluster, the branches slightly winged; blooms Aug.-Oct.
Habitat: dry; in rocky soil
Conservation Status: Introduced - persisting and spreading
Plants: erect, perennial, 8"-24" tall forb, succulent; stems tufted, unbranched
Leaves: alternate or opposite, mostly elliptical, flat, often with course teeth
Flowers: white to pink drying to a rusty brown, 5-parted, 1/3" wide; inflorescence a 1 1/2"- 4" rounded, many-branched cluster, the branches slightly winged; blooms Aug.-Oct.
Habitat: dry; in rocky soil
Conservation Status: Introduced - persisting and spreading
Roadsides, sandy woods, railroad embankments, disturbed prairie remnants, sandstone cliffs, old fields, dumps, rock outcrops, forest margins, cemeteries, trail edges, limestone shores of Lake Michigan; rarely along ephemeral streams in degraded woods.
Many collections probably represent plants that have persisted where they were dumped. Our oldest specimen was collected in 1889 but without habitat data. The first collection that seems to represent an escaped population was collected along railroad tracks in 1916.
Flora of North America: Flora of North America USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos
Botancial Illustration
Robert H. Read
Merel R. Black
Merel R. Black
Kurt Stüber