Name: derived from the Ancient Greek words lenos meaning "trough", and phyllon meaning leaf.
Genus: 7 species.
Clade:
CrassulaceaeRegion: United States, Texas, northeastern Mexico.
Use: ornamental, attractive.
Lenophyllum guttatumRegion: northeastern Mexico, southwestern United States, Texas.
Habitat: rocky, arid environments, in limestone outcrops; hot, dry, low-water environments; open woodlands.
Uses: ornamental; medicinal.
BotanyShrub; succulent; small, up to 30 cm tall; compact; low-growing.
Roots: fibrous
Leaves: opposite; fleshy; spatulate; attractive; in a rosette; crowded together; boat-shaped; 3.5 cm long; olive green-grey, grayish-pink or light green; covered with fine, black-brown or black-purple dots and stripes.
Inflorescence: small, terminal clusters at the tips of the stems, above the foliage on elongated stalks; cyme-like, or short thyrse.
Flowers: 5 parted; tiny; star-shaped; yellow or pale green with a hint of pink; petals free, yellow to yellowish, erect on the lower half, spreading or curling on the upper half.
Stamens: 10, positioned around a five-lobed pistil.
Ovary: superior, with five carpels.
Nectary: small amounts.
Pollination: by small insects, bees and flies.
TaxonomySome authorities place it in the genus Sedum. They are distinguished from Sedum species by the presence of terminal inflorescences, erect petals, and opposite leaves.