Leiberg's Stonecrop
Sedum leibergii
Synonyms: Amerosedum leibergii, Sedum borschii, Sedum divaricatum
The photo above shows the developing floral stem or scape of Leiberg's stonecrop. Although some of the leaves appear opposite, most are alternate, so this is not Sedum debile. Photographed at the crest of the Columbia Hills in the eastern Columbia River Gorge..........May 1, 2005.
Characteristics:
Leiberg's stonecrop is a biennial or perennial wildflower with
leafy, simple to sometimes branching stems from 5-12 cm high. The lower leaves
are narrowly spatulate (See photos.), measuring 6-12 mm long. They are widest
at the tips and taper gradually to the petioles. The upper leaves are alternate,
shorter in length, and are broadly lanceolate or oblong in shape and measure
up to 6 mm long.
The inflorescence is a spreading to recurved-branched cyme of
numerous flowers. The 5 sepals are narrowly triangular to ovate-lanceolate in
shape and up to 2 mm long. The yellow to greenish-yellow petals are narrowly
lanceolate in shape and 5-8 mm long. The stamens are slightly shorter than the
petals with the oblong-oval anthers up to 1.2 mm long.
Habitat:
Leiberg's stonecrop may be found on mossy, rocky
banks and gravelly slopes, especially in canyons.
Range:
Leiberg's stonecrop may be found from Yakima County
in Washington south to north-central Oregon and east to southeastern Washington
and western Idaho, including the Snake River canyon.
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The photo at left shows the flowers of Leiberg's stonecrop. Photographed along the Blue Basin overlook trail, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.........May 28, 2007. The photo at right shows Leiberg's stonecrop on a rock outcrop along the Hardstone Trail near the big whirlpool in the John Day River, Cottonwood Canyon State Park and adjacent BLM lands.....April 24, 2022.
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Leiberg's stonecrop nearly ready to bloom on rock outcrops along the Gray Butte Trail #852, Crooked River National Grasslands.........May 20, 2017.
An example of Leiberg's stonecrop with flower buds as seen at the Lawrence Memorial Grasslands several miles southwest of Shaniko, OR..........May 15, 2010.
The photo above shows the stem of Leiberg's stonecrop. Although some of the leaves appear opposite, most are alternate, so this is not Sedum debile. Photographed along the Blue Basin overlook trail, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.........May 23, 2003.
The photo above shows the basal and stem leaves
of Leiberg's stonecrop as seen on cliffs just east of the mouth of the Deschutes
River to the west of Biggs, OR..........April 2, 2000.
Paul Slichter
