Sedum praealtum subsp. praealtum
Erect or decumbent perennial shrub to c. 1 m tall; stems terete, to 5 m long, to c. 20 mm diam. near base, glabrous. Leaves oblong-elliptic to spathulate, 30–75 mm long, 15–25 mm wide, mostly at tips of branches, thick, fleshy, rounded at apex, yellow-green, sessile. Inflorescence a dense, terminal, many-flowered panicle, 10–20 cm long; peduncles 5–30 cm long. Flowers 13–20 mm diam., subsessile; sepals triangular, to c. 2 mm long; petals narrow, acuminate, 6–8 mm long, bright yellow; stamens 10. Follicles to c. 2.5 mm long, suberect, yellowish. Flowers winter-summer.
VVP, GipP, OtP, CVU, HSF. Recorded as naturalized for Victoria from Mt Buninyong near Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, at Kororoit Creek near Sunshine, and between Diamond Creek and Eltham, but possibly more widespread. It is a widely grown ornamental that sometimes persists (by spreading from nearby gardens or dumped garden refuse) along roadsides or on rock outcrops.
Sedum dendroideum Moς. & Sessé and S. confusum Hemsley are closely related to, and often confused with, S. praealtum. The former can be distinguished from S. praealtum by its lower habit (to c. 50 cm) and shorter (c. 30 mm), petiolate leaves. The latter can be distinguished by its much lower habit (to c. 15 cm) and much shorter (c. 20 mm), almost elliptic, sessile leaves.
Toelken, H.R.; Jeanes, J.A.; Stajsic, V. (1996). Crassulaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 542–555. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning