Succulent-stemmed Plants
What are they?
The plants in this group are not closely-related, but are similar in having rather succulent stems that hold a lot of water - though unlike cacti, they do have well-developed leaves.
Where are they found?
Succulent stems mean good water-retaining ability, so these plants are often found in dry ground. However, some are generalists of any open or disturbed ground.
Identification
Though the succulent stem is a common link here, these plants are otherwise pretty variable and should mostly be easily identifiable.
American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana
Very common and widespread as a weed of cultivation and as a fast-growing adventive in secondary growth scrub. The long, hanging trusses of black berries are mch favored by birds throughout the fall. Can grow to seven feet or more, though usually much lower. Flowers mostly June to September.
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Rose-moss Portulaca grandiflora
Native to Argentina and commonly grown as a garden plant. Frequently found as a short-lived weed in urban areas. Flowers June to September or later. Flowers may be any shade of orange, red, pink, purple or white and are usually doubled.
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Common Purslane Portulaca oleracea
A worldwide weed which probably originated from southern Asia. A rather insignificant and thus easily overlooked plant which trails close to the ground in lawns, flower borders and roadsides, sometimes even cracks in pavement. Has fleshy stems, leaves and fruiting bodies but only really noticeable when in flower. Flowers June to September.
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Slender Sea-purslane Sesuvium maritimum
A low, spreading plant of sandy places near the coast, on beaches and dunes. Flowers late June to September.
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on each petal |
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Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre
(Wall-pepper) Introduced from Europe. May be found anywhere in urban areas or where garden waste may have been deposited. Flowers May to June. Leaves plump, widest towards the base.
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White Stonecrop Sedum album
Introduced from Europe. Uncommon, but may be found anywhere in urban areas or where garden waste may have been deposited. Flowers May to July. Leaves oval and fleshy, like half-deflated footballs.
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Stringy Stonecrop Sedum sarmentosum
Introduced from Eastern Asia. May be found anywhere in urban areas or where garden waste may have been deposited. Flowers late May to July. Starts as a low mound, but older plants produce trailing stems. Leaves in batches of three along the stem on trailing shoots, fleshy but flat-bladed.
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Kamchatka Stonecrop Sedum kamtschaticum
Native of eastern Asia, but probably introduced from Europe as a garden plant. Uncommon, but may be found anywhere in urban areas or where garden waste may have been deposited. Flowers May to August.
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Reflexed Stonecrop Sedum rupestre
Introduced from Europe. A popular garden plant that may occasionally be found on roadsides or waste ground. Flowers late June to July.
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American Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
A rare species of muddy streamsides in shaded areas, known from wet woods in the lower half of the Cape May peninsula. Flowers April to May. A low-growing plant which eventually grows to form extensive patches of vegetation, the stems rooting at the leaf nodes.
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