Synonym: Sempervivum abyssinicum; Sedum abyssinicum.
Name: from the Greek words hypagein for deceive, to lead astray and phyton for plant.
Genus: 1 species.
Region: Eritrea, Ethiopia.
Habitat: highlands on steep rocky surfaces; altitude from 2250 to 3500 m.
BotanyHerb perennial; low, up to 26 cm tall.
Root: form a tuber or a tuberous rhizome.
Leaves: in triple whorls; lanceolate to nearly rounded, obovate; 3 to 10 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide; entire; glabrous; seated or have a stem-like base; with several hydathodes near the edge of the leaf.
Inflorescence: terminal; three branches; 10 to 12-flowered; ± 5 cm long, with terminal flowers.
Flowers: pedicel ± 3 cm long; sepals half connate, tips lanceolate, 1 to 3 mm long, green.
Calyx: sepals are fused at their base on half, lanceolate, ± 2 mm long, ± 1 mm wide.
Corolla: petals almost free, white or slightly pink-tinged, star shape; ± 6 mm long, 1 to 2 mm wide.
Androecium: stamens as long as the petals; small nectar flakes are circular.
Gynoecium: carpels free, 10 to 12, laterally compressed, narrowly lanceolate; clearly distinguishable into two parts; upper part is bristly papilla and more or less ciliate at the abdominal seam; ± 6 mm long, white, somewhat pinkish.
Fruits: follicles, with 2 seeds forming in each; break apart at a constriction.
Seeds: dark brown; cylindrical-egg-shaped and indistinctly ribbed lengthways.