Sedum glaucophyllum

Clausen

Cliff Stonecrop

G4Apparently Secure Found in 29 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146065
Element CodePDCRA0A0C0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilyCrassulaceae
GenusSedum
Other Common Names
cliff stonecrop (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-07-23
Change Date1994-11-03
Edition Date1996-07-23
Edition AuthorsWalton, D.
Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 to >300
Rank Reasons
Although regionally restricted, most occurrences are extant and there are believed to be more than 1500 individuals.
Range Extent Comments
This species is regionally restricted and occurs in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
Occurrences Comments
There are at least thirteen extant sites in the two states that track this species (Maryland and North Carolina). It occurs but is not tracked in Virginia and West Virginia indicating that the total number of extant sites is much higher than the thirteen noted.
Threat Impact Comments
Somewhat threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation and human disturbance, and to a lesser degree by forest management practices (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002). The habitat for this element could be used for quarrying.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Depressed and matted plant with all alternate flat and dilated leaves (Strausbaugh and Core, 1978).

Habitat

Sandstone, shale and limestone outcroppings with southern aspects, may be damp or enclosed by the canopy; basic/circumneutral soils; 800-1150 ft elevation; associated with Allium cernuum, Arabis lyrata, Campanula divaricata, Carya glabra, C. pallida, Celtis occidentalis, Cheilanthes lanosa, Chionanthus virginicus, Dodecatheon media, Draba ramosissima, Fraxinus americana, Heuchera americana, Houstonia longifolia, Juniperus virginiana, Krigia virginica, K. montana, Opuntia humifusa, Pinus virginiana, Quercus sp., Senecio anonymus, S. millefolium, Talinum teretifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, V. Stamineum, and Woodsia obtusa.

Ecology

MD -- Sedum glaucophyllum occurs along wet cracks in limestone cliffs. These cliffs have southern aspects and may be shaded to semi-open. They are generally xeric. Elevations range from 820-1150 ft. Campanula rotundifolia is an associated species.

NC -- Occurrences of this species are on rocky steep slopes of shale and gravel. The soils are basic or circumneutral. Associated plant species include Allium cernuum, Arabis lyrata, Campanula divaricata, Carya glabra, C. pallida, Cheilanthes lanosa, Fraxinus americana, Heuchera americana, Houstonia longifolia var. compacta, Juniperus virginiana, Krigia virginica, Opuntia humifusa, Pinus virginiana, Quercus spp. Saxifraga virginiensis, Senecio anonymous, Talinum teretifolium, and Woodsia obtusa.

VA -- This species occurs on shale and limestone outcroppings.

WV -- Damp calcareous rocks in the mountain counties of the state

Reproduction

This species reproduces vegetatively (stems and leaves?) but will also flower vigorously and set seed. Diploid plants have greater seed viability than the polyploid varieties. In the field noted pollinating species included small bees (Dialictus and Ceratina) and a beetle of the family Alleculidae (Clausen, 1975; E. Thompson, pers. comm., 1996).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
VirginiaS4Yes
West VirginiaS3Yes
North CarolinaS2Yes
MarylandS2Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (29)
Virginia (25)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Crawford MountainGeorge Washington National Forest9,892
Elliott KnobGeorge Washington National Forest9,380
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
The FriarsGeorge Washington National Forest2,035
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Little Allegheny MountainMonongahela National Forest10,514
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
References (9)
  1. Amoroso, Jame. Personal communication. Botanist. North Carolina Heritage Program, NC Dept. of Environment, Health, & Natural Resources, Division of Parks And Recreation, Raleigh, NC.
  2. Clausen, R.T. 1975. Sedum of North America north of the Mexican Plateau. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca. 742 pp.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  4. Gleason, H.A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Ludwig, Chris. Botanist, Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, Dept. of Conservation & Recreation, Main Street Station, Richmond, VA
  7. Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.
  8. Strausbaugh, P.D., and E.L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia. Seneca Books, Inc., Grantsville, WV. 1079 pp.
  9. Uhl, C.H. 1970. Heterploidy in Sedum glaucophyllum. Rhodora 72: 460-479.