Penthorum sedoides L.

Ditch Stonecrop

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Ditch Stonecrop is a native herbaceous perennial in the Ditch Stonecrop family (Penthoraceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Ditch Stonecrop occurs on creek banks, on the shores of ponds and lakes, in swamps, in floodplain forests, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a perennial from a creeping rhizome. The stems are erect to ascending, glabrous or slightly pubescent, simple or branched, and green or reddish in color. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, oblanceolate to lanceolate in outline, with toothed margins. The leaves are glabrous or sparsely stipitate-glandular on the lower surface and with scattered black-tipped hairs on the upper surface. Flowers are produced in terminal, scorpioid racemes. The inflorescence has 2-7 secund branches, each with 10-30 flowers. The rachis of the inflorescence is stipitate glandular. Individual flowers have 5 erect, unequal, green sepals with 1-4 gland-tipped teeth along each side. Petals are absent or 5 and inconspicuous, white or greenish in color. The 10 stamens have white filaments and pink anthers. The 5-beaked carpels often become reddish with age. The fruit is a capsule. The small seed are tuberculate and pinkish in color. The position of Penthorum has been disputed extensively. It is placed in the Crassulaceae or Saxifragaceae by some authors. Ditch Stonecrop is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. The maturing reddish inflorescence resembles the tentacles of an octopus, and add interest to the garden in late fall. Ditch Stonecrop prefers partial shade and wet soils.—A. Diamond.

**

Native OBL (NWPL)

**