Sedum acre L.
(Biting Stonecrop)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesSedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)
GenusSedum (stonecrops)
FamilyCRASSULACEAE (stonecrops)
OrderSAXIFRAGALES (saxifrages, stonecrops, peonies, currants and gooseberries)
SubclassEU-DICOTS (dicotyledonous flowering plants)
ClassMAGNOLIOPSIDA (flowering plants)
PhylumTRACHEOPHYTA (vascular plants)
KingdomPLANTAE (plants)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop) :
1: Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)
16 Jun 2015 OSGR: SZ89 50° 50’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: West Sussex (VC 13) England
Image 1: Flowering plant - oblique viewImage 2: Flowering plant - oblique view - close-upImage 3: Flowers - close-upImage 4: Flowers - close-up (2)
2: Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)
24 Jun 2001 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
at edge of concrete path
Image 1: Flowering shoots - side viewImage 2: FlowersImage 3: Flowers (2)Image 4: Flowers - close-upImage 5: Non-flowering shoots - side viewImage 6: Non-flowering shoots - top viewImage 7: Plant
3: Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)
9 Jun 1975 OSGR: TQ20 50° 50’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
in shingle
Image 1: Plant

Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 4 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Sedum acre (Biting Stonecrop)

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

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