Donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum)
Description
Sedum morganianum (donkey tail or burro's tail ) is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae, native to southern Mexico and Honduras. It is a succulent perennial producing trailing stems up to 60 cm (24 in) long, with fleshy blue-green leaves and terminal pink to red flowers in summer. With a minimum temperature of 5–7 °C (41–45 °F), in temperate regions S. morganianum is often cultivated as a houseplant in a suspended container, where the trailing stems hang vertically. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Sedum morganianum grows well outside or indoors, in very good light or full sun but not extreme heat. Plants are best grown in full sunlight for strong growth and to enhance leaf coloration. It requires regular, moderate watering all year, except in winter, when it should be infrequently watered. Excess water can damage the plant in a short time. The species is susceptible to over-watering, especially during winter dormancy. Plants are usually propagated by stem or leaf cuttings. The leaves are quite delicate and will readily break off the stem when manipulated. The leaves will stay alive for many days and roots will emerge after a few days. Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species updated to 470. They are leaf succulents found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, but extending into the southern hemisphere in Africa and South America. The plants vary from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have water-storing leaves. The flowers usually have five petals, seldom four or six. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Saxifragales
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Family: Crassulaceae
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Genus: Sedum
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