Jto [ 1 3 2 0 ]
SEMPERVIVUM tectorum.
Common Houseleek.
D0 DECAND1UA Dodecagynia.
G en . C h a r . Cal. inferior, in 12 deep segments. Petals
12. Capsnles 12, with many seeds.
Spec. Ch a r. Leaves fringed. Offsets spreading.
Sy n, Sempervivum tectorum. Linn. Sp. PL 6 6 4 . Sm.
FI. Brit. 522. Buds. 211. With, 4 5 2 . Hull. 106.
Relh. 185. Sihth. 153. Abbot. 106. Curt. Bond,
fasc. 3. t. 2 9 .
S. majus. Mail Syn. 2 6 9 .
C o m m o n , as every one must have remarked, on tiles of
houses, old walls, and especially on decaying thatched roofs,
where it forms large dense tufts, flowering, though sparingly,
in July.
The fibrous perennial roots throw out runners, each of which
termiiiates in a rosaceous tuft of numerous, imbricated, spreading,
very fleshy leaves, which are ovate, acute, strongly fringed;
flattish, smooth and shining above; paler, convex, somewhat
carinated, beneath. The larger and stronger tufts produce
each a strong, round, hairy, leafy stem 8 to 12 inches
high, terminating in a large many-flowered corymbus, witTi
racemose branches. Flowers on very short partial stalks, with
small awlshaped bracteae. Calyx downy and viscid, mostly
tinged with brown, and divided into 12 or more linear segments.
Petals agreeing with them in number, lanceolate,
fringed, either rose-coloured or of a pale reddish buff. A stamen
accompanies each petal, and the germens are about as
many in number, with short styles spreading in a starry form.
No scales accompany the germens; by which this genus is
more certainly distinguished from Sedurn than by the number
of the parts.
The bruised leaves are by rustic surgeons used as a cooling
external application, but their virtues are inconsiderable.