Crassulaceae

Abstract

The Crassulaceae, also known as the stonecrop family or the orpine family, in the order of Saxifragales, is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of 34 or 35 genera with approximately 1400 species, usually herbaceous, occasionally subshrubs or shrubs, worldwidely distributed, mostly occurring in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Africa. Stems are mostly succulent. Leaves are usually simple, alternate, opposite, or verticillate, sessile, and exstipulate. Blades are entire or slightly incised. Flowers are bisexual, rarely unisexual, actinomorphic, 4- or 5-merous or the multiplication, terminal or axillary, usually arranged to cymose, corymbiform, spiculate, racemose, paniculate, or occasionally solitary. Sepals and petals are free or connate. Stamens are isomerous or twice as petals, in two series when double to petals. Usually outer stamens are opposite to sepals, while inner ones are opposite to petals. Anthers are basal, occasionally dorsifixed, and introrsely dehiscent. Carpels are isomerous with petals, free or connate at base, and often with nectar scales at or near base. Ovaries are superior. Ovules are several to numerous on parietal placenta. Fruit is a follicle, rarely a capsule, one- to many seeded. Seeds are small, endosperm scanty, or absent. Four species, belonging to Sedum Linn. genus, are illustrated in the chapter.