BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
Sedum acre L. (Biting Stonecrop)
| Notes (MWS) | The common name Biting Stonecrop refers to the taste of the leaves, especially in the morning, and has been remarked on since Roman times. This isn't merely to deter herbivores but is part of the plant's adaptation to dry habitats. Sedum acre has the photosynthetic pathway known as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, also called CAM photosynthesis. It shares this with other members of the family Crassulaceae, which gives the pathway its name. CAM is also known from many other plants of dry habitats including cacti, bromeliads and orchids. CAM photosynthesis is an adaptation for dry habitats which allows the stomata to remain closed during the day and so conserve moisture. It involves the build-up of malic acid in the leaves during the night which gives the acid taste in the morning. The leaves are said to taste more benign after a day's photosynthesis in sunlight. see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassulacean_acid_metabolism |
Records (and photo sets)
| Taxon | Summary | Date | Vice-county | Country |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedum acre | In flower | 24 June 2001 | Berks | England | 7 |
| Sedum acre | Plant | 9 June 1975 | East Sussex | England | 1 |
Suggested Literature
Sedum acre may be covered by literature listed under:
|
BIOTA (living things) |
Eukaryota (eukaryotes) |
PLANTAE (plants) |
SPERMATOPHYTA (vascular plants) |
MAGNOLIOPSIDA (flowering plants) |
MAGNOLIIDAE (dicotyledonous flowering plants) |
Feeding and other inter-species relationships
Associated with Sedum acre:
| leaf (then stem) | leaf (then stem) is mined by larva | Apion sedi - a seed weevil (Coleoptera: Apionidae) | 
|
Morris, M.G., 1990 | |
| stem (after leaf) | stem (after leaf) is mined by larva | Apion sedi - a seed weevil (Coleoptera: Apionidae) | Morris, M.G., 1990 |
Sedum acre may be associated with more taxa listed at higher taxonomic level
|
MAGNOLIOPSIDA (flowering plants) |
MAGNOLIIDAE (dicotyledonous flowering plants) |
Sedum (stonecrops) |
References
| Morris, M.G., 1990 | Orthocerous Weevils |
