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Sempervivum tectorum |
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Hen and Chicks,
Houseleek |
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 3-8 |
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Southern Europe |
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Flat, crowded rosettes. |
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3-4 inches tall |
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Purple-red flowers,
˝-1 inch wide, on secund curving branches flower stems are 6-15 inches tall and are densely pubescent. |
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Midsummer |
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Open rosette, flat,
3-4 inches wide, 50-60 cuneate-obovate cuspidate leaves 1˝-3 inches long,
glabrous. |
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- var. calcareum - Glaucous leaves tipped
with reddish-brown. Also listed as S. calcareum.
- S. arachnoideum - Cobweb Hen and Chicks
- Leaf tips are connected by
cobwebby strands - bright red flowers in July.
- var. tomentosum - Similar to S. arachnoideum but flowers are yellow.
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Sempervivum is derived from
semper meaning forever and viva, to live, meaning
live forever. These plants are often seen on tiled roofs
of European country homes. It is said that houseleeks on the roof
will repel lightning
and prevents fires. |
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