English: Toothed rhodiola.
Synonym: Sedum heterodontum.
Region: China; Xinjiang, Xizang, Afghanistan, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan; SW Asia, Iran.
Habitat: slopes, sides of ravines, glacial rocks; refers full sun; altitude 2800 to 4700 m.
BotanyHerb; evergreen; perennial; succulent.
Root: vertical, stout; caudex branched; rhizomatous.
Stem: unbranched; upright.
Leaves: waxy, fleshy; grayish green, fascinating color, almost iridescent with lilac, amethyst, blue on grey; caudex scalelike; stem leaves alternate, sessile; lancelike, triangular to ovate; ± 2 cm long, 1.4 cm wide; base cordate and amplexicaul; margin coarsely serrate, irregularly toothed, apex acute; alternate.
Inflorescence: stem erect; corymbiform; compact; dense cymes; 0 to 40 cm tall, 4 to 5 mm wide ebracteate.
Flowers: star-shaped; stalkless, bractless; red-yellow, bronze-pink buds; orange, pink, red; shortly pedicellate, unisexual; male ones unequally 4-merous, with red or purple anthers; females have carpels with purple tips; sepals linear, ± 3 mm, apex obtuse; petals greenish yellow, linear, 7 by 1.3 mm, apex subobtuse; stamens 8, reddish, much longer than petals; nectar scales linear, apex shallowly concave; carpels lanceolate, ± 6 mm; styles short; blooming July to August.
Fruit: follicles erect, linear-oblong, apical beak curved, short.
Seeds: brown, ellipsoid.
TaxonomySimilar to
Rhodiola rosea.