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Previous studies of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathway during stress have been directed at individual drought and salinity stress, here, we studied the effects of a combination of drought and salt on CAM expression, chlorophyll fluorescence and antioxidant parameters in the C3 -CAM facultative Sedum album and C4 -CAM facultative Portulaca oleracea plants. While salinity alone was not able to induce functional CAM expression in P. oleracea leaves, we showed that salinity induced low level of nocturnal acid accumulation in S. album species. After 20 d of exposure to the combination of simultaneous salt and drought stress, P. oleracea plants exhibited more resistance to photoinhibition as compared to S. album plants. The decrease of maximum quantum yield (Fv /Fm ) in S. album leaves under combined stress was in parallel with the largest suppression of CAM expression of >50%, probably displaying the withdrawal of functional CAM back to C3 pathway. However, under drought treatment alone, S. album plants exhibited higher photosynthetic flexibility, which was associated with the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes activities and maintenance of glutathione (GSH) pool, and consequently higher photochemical functioning. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) correlated well with CAM expression, which was observed only in S. album, suggesting that NO acts in a different way in C3 and C4 species during CAM induction. Additionally, in both species, over the course of CAM induction, the changes in CAM expression parameters exhibited a similar pattern to that of antioxidant capacity and photochemical functioning parameters.

Green roofs are roof free spaces where living organisms can find an appropriate habitat to colonise. The establishment of plant species with different functionality can enhance biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. However, drought and nutrient availability can affect the plant development. The extensive green roof was set up in Pisa (Italy) in 2014, 12 modules of 10 cm depth were filled with three substrates composed of compost from municipal mixed waste, pelletised paper sludge, and commercial tephra product (Vulcaflor), as follows: Vulcaflor + compost, Vulcaflor + pellet + compost, and Vulcaflor + pellet, characterised by decreasing level of nitrogen content. The species planted in 2014 were chosen from the herbaceous spontaneous vegetation of urban and rural swards not often mowed, plus two sedum species. After the establishment phase, the green roof community was progressively dominated by Sedum species and other species were seeded in 2016. In 2018-19 the plant functional types and the community structure were monitored. Besides seasonal fluctuations, nitrogen shaped the composition of the community, and Sedum species showed high cover values in nitrogen-richer substrates. Annual forbs colonised the plots with a lower nitrogen content. In summer, the number of species drastically fell, and Sedum album was dominant in the three substrates. Seedling recruitment regenerated the community in the cooler season, increasing the diversity in the poor substrate. The scarcity of nitrogen led to the development of stress-tolerator annuals increasing the biodiversity in the rainy-cool season. Annual species constitute a transient seed bank which enables the system to regenerate when rain follows periods of heat and drought.

Although numerous examples of green roofs can be found in Turkey, limited research has been conducted on plant material and substrate type in this climate. Both plants and substrate are very important components in green roof design, it is essential to determine the proper substrates and plants in green roof systems for domestic green roof design. Two types of growing substrates: a commercial substrate consisting of crushed brick and clay (45%), pumice (45%), and organic matter (10%), and a recycled substrate including 90% coarse pumice (10–20 mm) and municipal compost (10%), were tested in three depths of 4, 7 and 10 cm. Tested plant species included Achillea millefolium, Armeria maritima, Sedum acre and Sedum album. Overall, the commercial substrate performed better than the recycled pumice. In addition, deeper substrates promoted greater survival and growth for nearly all species tested. Either A. maritima or A. millefolium survived in the recycled pumice at any depth, whereas they did survive when grown in the commercial substrate in greater than 7 cm and 10 cm, respectively. They both likely would require supplemental irrigation to be acceptable for green roofs in Istanbul or locations with a similar climate. Both Sedum species survived in all substrate types and depths. Information gained can be utilized by green roof professionals in the Istanbul region and in other parts of the world with a similar climate.

Introducing nectar-producing plants to green roofs and other urban green infrastructure has been attempted to support pollinator activities. Green roofs can be drought-prone, placing limitations on the success of plant growth and nectar production in the absence of irrigation. Plant species differ greatly in water usage patterns, so companion planting with low and high water users has been proposed to increase performance of high water use species, including species important for urban pollinators. Additionally, crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants such as Sedum tend to have low water usage and are reported to improve health condition of neighbors. However, Sedum species differ in morphological and physiological traits such as leaf shapes and the speed at which they switch to CAM, resulting in water usage differences during drought that could affect neighboring plants. This study quantifies the effects of companion planting with CAM plants (Sedum album, Sedum kamtschaticum) on nectar-producing plants (Fagopyrum esculentum, Trifolium repens), focusing on target plant growth form and leaf traits of neighboring Sedum. The health condition of F. esuculentum and soil water contents were improved significantly when they were planted together with S. album, which has small leaves and rapid CAM induction. Therefore, suppression of evapotranspiration of neighboring CAM plants could have positive effects on erect growth form nectar species. In contrast, the health condition of T. repens, which shows prostrate growth, was not affected by neighboring CAM plant species. Judging from these results, growth characteristics including leaf traits of neighboring Sedum and growth forms of the target plants could be important factors determining the effects of companion planting in urban green infrastructure.

Exposure to ambient PM2.5 poses serious threats to human health. In such cases, the presence of green roofs (GRs) and green walls (GWs) has several environmental benefits, including the capture of pollutants. Choosing appropriate designs of GWs and GRs to improve urban air quality is challenging because their performances depend on their constituent species and environmental characteristics of the particular locality. Capture of PM2.5 by different plant species of GRs and GWs has been measured only on monocultures. The impact of planting different species together (polycultures) on capturing PM2.5 remains unexplored. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of biodiverse GRs and GWs on PM2.5 capture. Seven species were analyzed as polycultures: Sedum album, Lampranthus spectabillis, Sedum spurium P, Lavandula angustifolia, Erigeron karvinskianus, Aptenia cordifolia, and Sedum palmeri. PM2.5 capture was measured by two methods: gravimetric determination and decay curve. Gravimetric results suggest that higher the biodiversity of plants in GRs and GWs, higher the PM2.5 capture, particularly for species with relatively low capture when used as monocultures. The ability to capture PM2.5 is dependent on the plant species, relative position of plants within the polyculture, and horizontal (GRs) or vertical (GWs) layout. Decay method results suggest that polycultures could be more effective in long-term reduction of high PM2.5 concentrations.

Because of their easy implementation and low maintenance, extensive green roofs have become established during the last few decades as one of the best options for integrating vegetation on the built environment. The success of these systems involves having of a plant species palette well adapted to extreme conditions, especially in drought environments. Among the available ones, the Sedum genus has stood out due to its tolerance to climate extreme conditions and its use has been widespread throughout the world. In previous research, efforts have been mainly concentrated on selecting the most drought tolerant Sedum species, without considering other important parameters for the suitable provision of ecosystem services from the green roof, such as coverage capacity, shape and structure or growth strategy, among others. In this study, five species of Sedum (Sedum album, S. sediforme, S. sexangulare, Sedum spurium cf. öCoccineum’ (syn. Phedimus spurius cf. öCoccineum’) and Sedum spurium cf. öSummer Glory’ (syn. Phedimus spurius cf. öSummer Glory’) were tested in a dry continental Mediterranean climate with the aim of observing their patterns of growth and development. Results revealed that Sedum album, S. sediforme, S. sexangulare are recommended species for their use on extensive green roofs in this climate, whereas both varieties of S. spurium, particularly var. “Coccineum”, present some limitations for their use, basically due to their shape, plant structure, pigmentation and lack of adaptation to winter conditions. Shape Index could be an adequate tool for decision-making in the selection of plant species in the design of green roofs because it provides information not only about the shape and size but also related to the growth strategy of these plants.

[ES] Dos de los problemas del crecimiento urbano son la escasez de espacios verdes y el aumento de la temperatura, lo que conduce a una reducción de la calidad medioambiental de las ciudades. Para la mejora de estas condiciones, la incorporación de cubiertas vegetales en los edificios se ha convertido en una medida de sostenibilidad aplicada a la nueva construcción o rehabilitación de edificios, lo que proporciona ventajas económicas y ecológicas, y mejora el balance energético de los edificios. En este sentido, tanto en los países más cálidos como en los más fríos, las cubiertas vegetales protegen a los edificios acumulando calor en invierno o protegiéndolos de la radiación solar durante las estaciones más cálidas. Algunas especies del género Sedum, como por ejemplo S. sediforme y S. álbum, son especialmente interesantes para su implantación en una cubierta vegetal, ya que tienen un sistema radicular no agresivo y superficial, alta tolerancia a la sequía, pocos requerimientos nutricionales, elevada resistencia a plagas y enfermedades, y una capacidad especial para modificar su sistema metabólico durante periodos de sequía. Este Trabajo Final de Grado se enmarca en el contexto de un proyecto con una empresa relacionada con este sector. El principal objetivo de este trabajo responde a una de las necesidades de la empresa, a saber, optimizar la producción constante de dos ecotipos de S. sediforme y S. álbum, oriundos de la Comunidad Valenciana, mediante un sistema de propagación eficiente que permita la producción homogénea de un elevado número de plantas en espacios reducidos. Para ello, y como alternativa a los métodos de propagación tradicionales, hemos desarrollado un sistema de micropropagación similar a los que actualmente emplean las empresas del sector ornamental para la producción de plantas a gran escala, lo que permite una multiplicación más rápida y económica. El sistema que hemos desarrollado también puede ser especialmente útil para la conservación y repoblación de plantas que se encuentren en peligro de extinción., [EN] Two of the problems of urban growth are the scarcity of green spaces and the increase in temperature, which leads to a reduction in the environmental quality of cities. To improve these conditions, the incorporation of green roofs in buildings has become a measure of sustainability applied to the rehabilitation or construction of new buildings, which provides economic and ecological advantages, and improves the energy balance of buildings. In this sense, in both cold and warm countries, green roofs protect buildings by accumulating heat in winter or by protecting them from solar radiation during the warmer seasons. Some species of the genus Sedum, such as S. sediforme and S. album, are especially interesting for implantation in plant covers, as they have a non-aggressive and superficial root system, high drought tolerance, low nutritional requirements, high resistance to pests and diseases, and a special capacity to modify their metabolism during periods of water scarcity. This Final Degree Work has been carried out in the context of a project with a private company related to this sector. The main objective of this work responds to the company's need to optimize the constant production of S. sediforme and S. album ecotypes, native to the Valencian Community, by means of an efficient propagation system that allows the homogeneous production of a large number of plants in a reduced space. To this end, as an alternative to traditional propagation methods, we have developed a micropropagation system similar to those currently used by companies in the ornamental sector for large-scale plant production, allowing faster and more economical multiplication. The system that we have developed can also be very useful for the conservation and repopulation of ecotypes of these species that are in danger of extinction., [CA] Dos dels problemes del creixement urbà són l'escassetat d'espais verds i l'augment de la temperatura, la qual cosa conduïx a una reducció de la qualitat mediambiental de les ciutats. Per a la millora d'estes condicions, la incorporació de cobertes vegetals en els edificis s'ha convertit en una mesura de sostenibilitat aplicada a la nova construcció o rehabilitació d'edificis, la qual cosa proporciona avantatges econòmics i ecològics, i millora el balanç energètic dels edificis. En este sentit, tant en els països més càlids com en els més freds, les cobertes vegetals protegeixen als edificis acumulant calor a l'hivern o protegint-los de la radiació solar durant les estacions més càlides. Algunes espècies del gènere Sedum, com per exemple S. sediforme i S. album, són especialment interessants per a la seua implantació en una coberta vegetal, ja que tenen un sistema radicular no agressiu i superficial, alta tolerància a la sequera, pocs requeriments nutricionals, elevada resistència a plagues i malalties, i una capacitat especial per a modificar el seu sistema metabòlic durant períodes de sequera. Este Treball Final de Grau s'emmarca en el context d'un projecte amb una empresa relacionada amb este sector. El principal objectiu d'este treball respon a una de les necessitats de l'empresa, a saber, optimitzar la producció constant de dos ecotipos de S. sediforme i S. album, oriünds de la Comunitat Valenciana, per mitjà d'un sistema de propagació eficient que permeta la producció homogènia d'un elevat nombre de plantes en espais reduïts. Per a això, i com a alternativa als mètodes de propagació tradicionals, hem desenrotllat un sistema de micropropagació semblant a què actualment empren les empreses del sector ornamental per a la producció de plantes a gran escala, la qual cosa permet una multiplicació més ràpida i econòmica. El sistema que hem desenrotllat també pot ser especialment útil per a la conservació i repoblació de plantes que es troben en perill d'extinció.

Plants with facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) maximize performance through utilizing C3 or C4 photosynthesis under ideal conditions while temporally switching to CAM under water stress (drought). While genome-scale analyses of constitutive CAM plants suggest that time of day networks are shifted, or phased to the evening compared to C3, little is known for how the shift from C3 to CAM networks is modulated in drought induced CAM. Here we generate a draft genome for the drought-induced CAM-cycling species Sedum album. Through parallel sampling in well-watered (C3) and drought (CAM) conditions, we uncover a massive rewiring of time of day expression and a CAM and stress-specific network. The core circadian genes are expanded in S. album and under CAM induction, core clock genes either change phase or amplitude. While the core clock cis-elements are conserved in S. album, we uncover a set of novel CAM and stress specific cis-elements consistent with our finding of rewired co-expression networks. We identified shared elements between constitutive CAM and CAM-cycling species and expression patterns unique to CAM-cycling S. album. Together these results demonstrate that drought induced CAM-cycling photosynthesis evolved through the mobilization of a stress-specific, time of day network, and not solely the phasing of existing C3 networks. These results will inform efforts to engineer water use efficiency into crop plants for growth on marginal land., Author summary Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis represents an important adaptation to arid environments as CAM plants take up CO2 at night when evapotranspiration rates are lower. Genomes and large-scale datasets are available for several plants with constitutive CAM activity, but they provided little insight on how this trait evolved from C3. Here we sequenced the CAM-cycling plant Sedum album, which switches from C3 to CAM photosynthesis under drought conditions. We performed a global gene expression analysis sampling every two hours over 24 hours in C3 (well-watered) and CAM (drought) conditions. This comparative approach allowed us to identify components of the CAM pathway that were previously unidentified in constitutive CAM plants such as pineapple and orchid. Our results reveal a massive time of day specific rewiring of the transcriptional networks in Sedum where only 20% of cycling genes overlap between the C3 and CAM conditions. This time of day reprogramming results in broad network changes linking stress pathways and photosynthesis under CAM.

Urban agriculture on green roofs has tremendous potential to enhance food security, economic opportunities, and community building in cities yet faces unique ecological challenges including limited soil moisture content for crops. We compared the effects of two green roof soil moisture management practices, sedum (Sedum album) groundcover versus watering, on performance and quality of three perennial culinary herbs: thyme, mint, and oregano. Individually and interactively, sedum groundcover and watering significantly impacted parameters of performance (biomass, vitality, and module coverage) and quality (total phenolic concentrations) of the three culinary herbs during early stages of establishment while having variable impacts during later developmental stages. Our results suggest that sedum groundcover can serve as a substitute for watering of hardy culinary herbs on green roofs on the basis of plant performance and quality. Findings can be applied to inform agroecological water management of he...

Pollinators provide crucial urban ecosystem services. Introducing nectar-producing species on green roofs is one method to support pollinator populations. However, novel cultivation methods may be required to improve plant health with minimal irrigation on extensive green roofs, which are severely restricted in soil thickness. Although companion planting with CAM plants such as Sedum has been reported to improve the performance of neighboring plants, the growth form of the beneficiary species seems important in determining the effectiveness of the technique. In this study, eleven species of nectar-producing plants were classified into two growth forms: carpet species (Phyla canescens, Trifolium repens, Thymus serpyllum and Thymus longicaulis), non-carpet species (Calamintha nepeta, Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula stoechas, Melissa officinalis, Mimosa pudica, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Erectus’, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’), and were planted together with Sedum album in a greenhouse or on a rooftop space. There were no net positive effects in the impacts of companion planting with S. album on plant biomass both in carpet and non-carpet species. However, companion planting with S. album had net positive effects on leaf health in L. stoechas, M. officinalis, M. pudica, and R. officinalis ‘Prostratus’, classified as non-carpet species. In contrast, there were no positive effects on carpet species, planted together with S. album. These results suggest that complementary growth forms could be one of the factors to determine effective planting combinations to improve plant health conditions on extensive green roofs. Additionally, the increase in soil water content by suppressing evapotranspiration when water is limiting can be effective in improving leaf health conditions of neighbors in companion planting with S. album. While past studies have shown positive benefits of companion planting with CAM species, this experiment suggests the possibility that not all growth forms may benefit from facilitation by Sedum.

Background and aims Layered profiles of designed soils may provide long-term benefits for green roofs, provided the vegetation can exploit resources in the different layers. We aimed to quantify Sedum root foraging for water and nutrients in designed soils of different texture and layering. Methods In a controlled pot experiment we quantified the root foraging ability of the species Sedum album (L.) and S. rupestre (L.) in response to substrate structure (fine, coarse, layered or mixed), vertical fertiliser placement (top or bottom half of pot) and watering (5, 10 or 20 mm week−1 ). Results Water availability was the main driver of plant growth, followed by substrate structure, while fertiliser placement only had marginal effects on plant growth. Root foraging ability was low to moderate, as also reflected in the low proportion of biomass allocated to roots (5–13%). Increased watering reduced the proportion of root length and root biomass in deeper layers. Conclusions Both S. album and S. rupestre had a low ability to exploit water and nutrients by precise root foraging in substrates of different texture and layering. Allocation of biomass to roots was low and showed limited flexibility even under water-deficient conditions. Sedum root foraging in layered green roof substrates

Different succulent plants have been shown to exhibit varying degrees of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). This variation has not been consistently shown to relate to water use efficiency (WUE) by these species. This raises fundamental questions about the ecophysiological implications of switching between C3 photosynthesis and CAM metabolism. More information is also needed for Sedum species that utilize CAM to varying degrees on green roofs so that plant water use can be included in water balance equations that predict green roof performance. We monitored carbon dioxide exchange and water use by two common green roof species, Sedum album and Sedum kamtschaticum , for three weeks without water under strictly controlled environmental conditions in order to (1) compare daily carbon gain, rates of evapotranspiration ( E T ), and WUE for these two species and (2) assess the effect of CAM cycling on WUE with increasing drought for entire plant stands. Under similar environmental conditions, S. album and S. kamtschaticum canopies exhibited CAM metabolism to different extents with different ecophysiological consequences. S. kamtschaticum exhibited C3 photosynthesis for the first 14 days without water and outperformed S. album in terms of carbon gain and WUE above a volumetric water content (VWC) of 0.08 m 3 m −3 . S. album was the more drought tolerant species under the conditions of this experiment, gaining at least as much carbon and using water more efficiently at VWC below 0.08 m 3 m −3 . By switching from C3 to CAM at lower VWC, S. kamtschaticum had an overall greater WUE even though this species used as much if not more water overall compared to S. album . These data further support suggestions that a major adaptive function of CAM is to prolong plant-available water while maintaining a consistent, albeit low level of carbon gain. These findings also demonstrate why Sedum species should be treated independently of each other when considered in green roof designs.

This study was conducted in two phases in a greenhouse in green roof modules. In Phase I, five commercial substrate types or systems were subjected to three irrigation methods (overhead, drip, and sub-irrigation) to determine substrate water distribution and retention. Substrates subjected to overhead irrigation or those with a moisture retention fabric (MRF) retained the greatest amount of water. Sub-irrigation resulted in the least amount of water retention and the most wastewater, except when a MRF was present. Substrate volumetric moisture content exhibited similar results. The MRF was effective in retaining water, but for sub-irrigation a visible water front was not visible as water did not reach the surface via capillary action. Differences can be attributed to the fact that overhead irrigation distributed water over 100% of the area, whereas in many cases the water front radiating from the drip or sub emitters never merged leaving dry areas in between emitters. In Phase II these irrigation methods were assessed to see how they influenced plant growth and health of Sedum album and Sedum floriferum . Repeated measurements were recorded for plant survival, growth index, chlorophyll fluorescence, and substrate volumetric moisture content. Results show that overhead was the most favorable for plant growth and health. Plant dry weights averaged 1.00 g, 0.78 g, 0.40 g, and 0.09 g for Sedum album subjected to overhead, drip, sub- and no irrigation, respectively, when no MRF was used. The inclusion of MRF generally improved results for drip and sub-irrigated plants. Chlorophyll fluorescence values were generally highest for plants subjected to overhead irrigation. Because green roof substrates tend to be coarse to allow adequate drainage, water does not move laterally to a great extent as it would in finer substrates. For this reason, drip and sub-irrigation may not be the most efficient irrigation methods.

Questions How do native species perform when included in seed mixtures to re-vegetate degraded areas? Is their germination and establishment affected by seeding density? Location Limestone quarry spoil, SW Portugal. Methods A glasshouse experiment simulating usual hydroseeding procedures (substrate, time of the year, slurry composition, seed mixture) was performed to evaluate the suitability of six native species (Origanum vulgare, Piptatherum miliaceum, Phagnalon saxatile, Sedum album, S. sediforme, Thymus mastichina) to re-vegetate a Mediterranean quarry. Other native species were added to create the seed mixtures. Three treatments were assayed for each target species sown: (1) alone (T), (2) in a low-density seed mixture (ca. 15 g·m−2), and (3) in a high-density seed mixture (ca. 30 g·m−2). Plants were monitored for 8 months. Results The target species were able to germinate, establish and grow when sown alone, but their performance was drastically impaired when included in seed mixtures. This was related to plant morphologies, as some co-seeded species rapidly developed large leaves, which presumably reduced resource availability for the small-leaved seedlings of most target species. Almost no seedlings of the latter survived in the mixture treatments. Low- and high-seeding densities yielded similar plant covers and heights. Conclusions Even when apparently suitable to restore a given site, candidate native species cannot simply be included in current re-vegetation ‘recipes’, because their success largely depends on the density and seedling characteristics of the co-seeded species (even if these are also native). The early performance and morphology of the latter must be taken into account in the design of seed mixtures used in restoration actions.

Fertility is an important aspect of green roof maintenance. Aesthetic quality and growth of two sedum species (Sedum album and Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’) treated with synthetic granular fertilizer [Green View 10N-4.4P-8.3K (10-10-10)] and two organic fertilizers [Coast of Maine 4N-0.9P-1.7K (4-2-2) and Nature Safe 8N-2.2P-4.5K (8-5-5)] at 10 g N·m−2 applied as a single spring application or a split application (spring and summer) and a controlled-release fertilizer [Nutricote 14N-6.1P-11.6K (14-14-14)] at the same rate and a no fertilizer control were evaluated. The best aesthetic quality and growth was for the single application synthetic granular fertilizer, followed by the split application of synthetic granular fertilizer. Also, single applications were better than split application for the organic fertilizers, indicating that sedums use nutrients the most in spring. The organic fertilizers performed poorly because they failed to provide utilizable nutrients in adequate quantities. A low level of microbial activity in green roof media, may have contributed to the minimal amount of utilizable nutrients released by the organic fertilizers. Plants treated with controlled-release fertilizer performed similarly to the control, however, the following spring they had the best aesthetic quality, indicating the prills contained some residual nutrients.

Municipalities often restrict irrigation of urban landscapes, causing plants to experience drought stress. Few data are available regarding drought resistance of non-turfgrass landscape species. This study evaluated the performance of one turfgrass (Poa pratensis L. ‘Apollo’) and eight herbaceous landscape species (Achillea millifolium L., Ajuga reptans L. ‘Bronze Beauty’, Liriope muscari Decne., Pachysandra terminalis Siebold and Zucc., Sedum album L., Thymus serpyllum L., Vinca major L., and Vinca minor L.) during a severe drydown and subsequent recovery. This greenhouse study was conducted in the spring/summer and again in the fall of 2010. S. album performed the best, averaging 254 days to decline to a drought rating of 1 (1 to 9 scale, 1 = dead/dormant and 9 = best quality). L. muscari and P. terminalis also performed well, averaging 86 days to a drought rating of 1. V. minor and V. major declined faster than the previous species, averaging 63 days. A. millifolium, A. reptans, P. pratensis, and T. serpyllum declined the fastest to a drought rating of 1 (mean 52 days). Thereafter, the only species to recover after 60 days of resuming irrigation were P. pratensis [46% pot cover (PC)], S. album (38% PC), and V. major (35% PC) in the spring/summer study; no species recovered during the fall study. Results indicate S. album, L. muscari, and P. terminalis are the most drought-resistant among the species evaluated in landscapes where severe drought may occur. V. minor and V. major are good selections in less severe droughts as is P. pratensis if periods of dormancy are acceptable.

Sedum album is a succulent plant, with phenotypic variability resulting in delimitation of a number of taxa with diverse taxonomic recognition. We analyzed the taxa from Sedum album in broad sense (S. album, S. micranthum, S. athoum and S. serpentini) from Balkan Peninsula, to check whether the variability of their epidermal structures and epicuticular wax composition corresponds to their taxonomic reliability. Epidermal structures and epicuticular waxes were analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector chromatography and multivariate statistical techniques. Analyses of studied taxa have shown that significant systematic characters include adaxial epidermal and guard cell length, stomatal frequency and subsidiary cells area on abaxial epidermis. The content of n-alkanes C-29, C-30, C-27, C-32 and C-33 was shown to be valuable criterion for their phytochemical delimitation. The comparison of epicuticular wax microstructures has shown no significant differences. Results indicate presence of two (micromorphology) or three (phytochemistry) well-defined groups of populations, with S. serpentini manifesting a considerable level of separation toward the others. Sedum athoum have shown weak to moderate degree of differentiation, while S. micranthum has shown general resemblance to S. album.

In this study, we evaluated the rooting potential of herbaceous cuttings of Atlantic climate native species of Sedum which can be interesting for use in extensive green roofs. The species are native of Galicia and León (NW Spain), which have an Atlantic climate. The following native species were considered: S. album, S. alpestre, S. anglicum, S. brevifolium, S. hirsutum and S. acre. A commercially available species, S. rupestre (S. reflexum), was used as a control for comparison with the native species. The trial was established in June 2011 in a greenhouse equipped with a fog-system and bottom heat. The cuttings used in the trials were harvested from mother plants established from wild populations collected in coastal and inland areas of Galicia and grown in a growth chamber. The cuttings were inserted directly (i.e. without prior hormonal treatment) into individual cells. The rooting media consisted of a mixture of Sphagnum peat moss, pine bark compost and vermiculite (1:1.5:2.5, v/v/v). A split plot design with 5 replicates per species-origin and evaluating date and 7 cuttings per replicate was used. Rooting percentage, visual rooting score and number of primary roots were determined 15 and 30 days after cutting. The quality of roots was evaluated as total root length and number of root tips, with a Delta-T Scan system. The length and dry weight of the shoots were determined 90 days after cutting. The mean rooting percentage was 87% on the first evaluating date and 95% on the second. The rooting percentage differed significantly between species, with the lowest values obtained for S. hirsutum of coastal origin (68%) 15 days after cutting. For the other species, the rooting percentages were similar, varying between 94 and 100% at 30 days after cutting. Root development also differed significantly between species and origins. In general, S. anglicum (from inland locations), S. album (from inland locations) and the control species (S. rupestre) developed larger root systems within the shortest space of time. The findings showed the propagation performance of Atlantic climate native species of Sedum was good. The plants can be propagated on a commercial scale from cuttings within a short time, varying between 1 and 2 or 3 months depending on the species SI

Dwarf geophytes have great potential for use on extensive green roofs because they often come from arid areas and can survive dry and hot summer in a dormant state. However, there has been little research regarding geophytes on green roofs. This experiment was conducted to study the performance of 26 species of geophytes on a green roof during 2005–2006 in Sheffield, UK. The geophytes were grown at two substrate depths (5 cm and 10 cm) of substrate on a green roof without irrigation. To investigate the susceptibility of geophytes to competition from a covering of permanent plants, the geophytes were grown with or without a surface vegetation layer of Sedum album . Overall, the growth, survival rate, regeneration and flowering of geophytes were more successful at a substrate depth of 10 cm than of 5 cm, probably because of improved moisture retention, fewer temperature fluctuations and the protection from digging by animals. The flowering period was limited to spring, therefore, it is recommended to combine with other plant species such as covering plants. Geophyte species did not compete much with S. album and Sedum cover had no significant effects on the growth, survival rate, regeneration and flowering of geophytes in most species. Iris bucharica , Muscari azureum , Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha , Tulipa humilis , Tulipa tarda and Tulipa turkestanica had good performance at the substrate depth of 5 cm. In addition, Narcissus cyclamineus ‘February gold’ and Tulipa urumiensis exhibited a successful performance at the substrate depth of 10 cm.

Photosynthetic gas exchange, dry mass production, water relations and inducibility of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathway as well as antioxidative protection during the C3-CAM shift were investigated in Sedum album and Sedum stoloniferum from Crassulaceae under water stress for 20 days. Leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf osmotic and water potential decreased with increasing water stress in both studied species. Significant reduction in dry matter production and leaf thickness was detected only in S. stoloniferum after 20-d water stress. Δtitratable acidity and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity in S. album responded to drought at early stages of stress treatment, continued to increase throughout the entire stress period and reached levels 15 times higher than those in well-watered plants. In S. stoloniferum, however, both parameters responded later and after a transient increase declined again. In S. stoloniferum, in spite of increase by drought stress, net night-time CO2 assimilation was negative resembling a C3-like pattern of gas exchange. Catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased in plants subjected to mild water stress while declined as the stress became severe. Although malondialdehyde (MDA) content was higher in drought-stressed S. stoloniferum, the increase in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) that may act as a signal for C3-CAM transition was higher in S. album compared with S. stoloniferum. In drought-stressed plants, SOD activity showed a clear diurnal fluctuation that was more steadily expressed in S. album. In addition, such pattern was observed for CAT only in S. album. We concluded that temporal and diurnal fluctuation patterns in the activity of antioxidant enzymes depended on duration of drought stress and was related to the mode of photosynthesis and degree of CAM induction. According to our results, S. stoloniferum developed a low degree of CAM activity, e.g. CAM-cycling metabolism, under drought conditions.

Urban particulate pollution in the UK remains at levels which have the potential to cause negative impacts on human health. There is a need, therefore, for mitigation strategies within cities, especially with regards to vehicular sources. The use of vegetation as a passive filter of urban air has been previously investigated, however green roof vegetation has not been specifically considered. The present study aims to quantify the effectiveness of four green roof species – creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera ), red fescue ( Festuca rubra ), ribwort plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ) and sedum ( Sedum album ) – at capturing particulate matter smaller than 10 μm (PM 10 ). Plants were grown in a location away from major road sources of PM 10 and transplanted onto two roofs in Manchester city centre. One roof is adjacent to a major traffic source and one roof is characterised more by urban background inputs. Significant differences in metal containing PM 10 capture were found between sites and between species. Site differences were explained by proximity to major sources. Species differences arise from differences in macro and micro morphology of the above surface biomass. The study finds that the grasses, A. stolonifera and F. rubra , are more effective than P. lanceolata and S. album at PM 10 capture. Quantification of the annual PM 10 removal potential was calculated under a maximum sedum green roof installation scenario for an area of the city centre, which totals 325 ha. Remediation of 2.3% (±0.1%) of 9.18 tonnes PM 10 inputs for this area could be achieved under this scenario.

This study follows the succession of 25 succulents (various species of Graptopetalum , Phedimus , Rhodiola , and Sedum ) grown at three media depths (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 cm) over the course of seven years in south central Michigan. Absolute cover was determined using a point-frame transect every two weeks during the first three growing seasons and monthly during years four through seven to measure community composition and change. At the 7.5 cm depth, 22 species were present at the end of the first growing season, but these numbers were reduced to 13, 8, and 7 after two, three, and five years, respectively. Similar results occurred at the shallower depths except that the number of species was reduced at a faster pace. For the most part, the species present did not change after four years, but the relative abundance for each species continued to change. At 5.0 cm and 7.5 cm, both Phedimus spurius and Sedum middendorffianum continued to expand through year 7 at the expense of the other remaining species. At 2.5 cm, Sedum acre and Sedum album were the dominant species. In addition to media depth, an important factor when evaluating green roof plant performance is the length of time that the study is conducted in order to avoid premature conclusions and misleading recommendations. Plants that initially survive may eventually experience reduced coverage or disappear completely due to competition, variability in climate, and other factors. These factors should all be considered during the design and planning phase of a green roof.

Plants suitable for extensive green roofs must tolerate extreme rooftop conditions, and the substrates in which they grow must fulfill horticultural and structural requirements. Deeper substrates may retain more water for plants during dry periods, but will also weigh more, especially when near saturation. A study in central Pennsylvania was conducted to evaluate the influence of substrate type and depth on establishment of five green roof plants. Two stonecrops [white stonecrop (Sedum album) and tasteless stonecrop (Sedum sexangulare)], one ice plant (Delosperma nubigenum), and two herbaceous perennials [maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides) and saxifrage pink (Petrorhagia saxifraga)] were planted in three depths (30, 60, and 120 mm) of two commercially available green roof substrates (expanded shale and expanded clay). Study flats inside a plasticulture tunnel received three drought treatments (no drought, 2 weeks early drought, and 2 weeks late drought). The two stonecrops performed well under most conditions, although tasteless stonecrop was stunted by early drought. Ice plant only grew well when provided with water. When subjected to any drought, the herbaceous perennials had the fewest survivors in the expanded shale. Saxifrage pink flowered profusely wherever it survived. The study plants were most affected by substrate depth, except for maiden pink, which responded solely to drought. When subjected to early drought conditions, the herbaceous perennials did not survive in 30 mm of either substrate, or in 60 mm of expanded shale. Although the stonecrops performed well in 60 mm of substrate when subjected to drought, their performance was superior in the expanded clay compared with shale.

Two studies were conducted on a third-story rooftop to quantify the effect of solar radiation (full sun versus full shade) on several US native and non-native species for potential use on extensive green roofs. In the first study, plugs of six native and three non-native species were planted in May 2005 on substrates of two different depths (8.0 and 12.0 cm) both in sun and shade. Absolute cover (AC) was recorded using a point-frame transect during the growing season beginning in June 2005 and every 2 weeks thereafter for a period of 4 years. By week 174 (23 September 2008), most species exhibited different AC within a depth between sun and shade. However, when all species were combined, overall AC did not differ between sun and shade within a depth. This indicated that while species make-up was changing among solar radiation levels, that overall coverage was not significantly different between sun and shade. For all substrate depths and solar levels, the most abundant species were Sedum acre , Allium cernuum , Sedum album ‘Coral Carpet’, and Talinum calycinum . Less abundant species included Talinum parviflorum , Carex flacca , Sedum stenopetalum , and Sedum divergens , which all exhibited 0 or near 0 AC regardless of depth or solar radiation levels. With the exception of T. calycinum , native species were less abundant than non-native species. In the second study, six common extensive green roof species of Sedum established from seed in May 2005 on a 10.0 cm (3.9 in) substrate depth were compared in both sun and shade over four growing seasons. AC was evaluated as in the previous study. Solar radiation did not affect AC, but overall species composition differed between sun and shade levels. The most abundant species in full sun were S. acre (0.57 AC) and S. album ‘Coral Carpet’ (0.51 AC). Sedum kamtschaticum (0.57 AC) and Sedum spurium ‘Coccineum’ (0.35 AC) performed the best in the shade. For both solar levels, the least abundant species at week 174 were Sedum pulchellum (0.0 AC) and S. album ‘Coral Carpet’ (0.1 AC).

Untersucht wurde, inwiefern sich Lactobacillus ssp. und Bacillus subtilis im Rahmen einer Gleisbettbegrunung positiv auf Wachstumsparameter und Bedeckungsgrad mit Sedum album auswirken. Die Versuche wurden auf den drei Substraten Ziegelbruch, Mineralwollmatten und Geotextilmatten im Jahre 2003 an der Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin durchgefuhrt. Zusatzlich wurden alle Varianten mit und ohne Nahrmedium getestet.

Although the economic, environmental, and aesthetic benefits of green roofs have been recognized for decades, research quantifying these benefits has been limited—particularly in the U.S. Green roof usage and research is most prevalent in Germany, but can also be seen in several other European countries and Canada. If green roof installations are to be successful in Michigan and the rest of the U.S., then a better understanding of what specific taxa will survive and thrive under harsh rooftop conditions in this geographic area is required. Nine simulated rooftop platforms containing three commercially available drainage systems were installed at Michigan State University. Eighteen Michigan native plants planted as plugs and nine Sedum spp. planted as either seed or plugs were evaluated over three years for growth, survival during both establishment and overwintering, and visual appearance. All Sedum spp. tested were found to be suitable for use on Midwestern green roofs. Of the eighteen native plant taxa tested, Allium cernuum L., Coreopsis lanceolata L., Opuntia humifosa Raf., and Tradescantia ohiensis L. are suitable for use on unirrigated extensive green roofs in Michigan. If irrigation is available, then other native species are potential selections.

The most common technique for establishment of thin extensive green roofs in Sweden has been using prefabricated vegetation mats. Our study investigated (1) how the establishment of green roofs in Sweden was influenced by the establishment method (prefabricated vegetation mat, plug-plant, shoot), substrate composition and species mixture, and (2) whether on-site construction was a possible alternative. The establishment of the vegetation, which in all cases consisted of succulent species, was recorded using the quadrate point intercept method in fixed plots and the success measured as frequency cover. Prefabricated vegetation mats had higher succulent plant cover than on-site constructed roofs. There was no difference in succulent plant cover between plots established using plug-plants compared to shoots. Shoot-established plots had more moss than the other establishment methods. The commercial substrate ‘Roof soil’ had significantly higher succulent plant cover than the other substrates, which might be related to a higher nutrient content. The organic content of the non-commercial substrates was rapidly decomposed. The standard species mixture produced a higher cover than both the mix developed for northern conditions and the mix with an increased proportion of big leaved species. The total cover of the plots was mainly dependent on the cover of two species: Sedum album (L.) and Sedum acre (L.). Few species managed to establish spontaneously but the establishment of woody species highlighted the need for proper maintenance.

Urbanization leads to higher phosphorus (P) concentration in urban catchments. Among different stormwater retention measures, green roofs are the least efficient in phosphorus retention. Moreover, much research has shown that green roofs act as sources of phosphorus, and they can emit P in significant loads. In this study low P emission green roof substrate was developed based on the proposed step by step procedure for the selection of materials including laboratory tests, column experiments, and the monitoring of the open air green roof model. Developed substrate is the mixture of crushed red brick (35% of volume), crushed limestone (20% of volume), and sand (45% of volume), and is characterized by a bulk density of 1.52 g/cm3, water permeability of 9 mm/min, water capacity of 24.6% of volume, and granulometric composition that meets the Landscaping and Landscape Development Research Society (FLL) guidelines. Limestone was added to limit the potential P leaching from crushed red brick and vegetated mate consisted of Sedum album, Sedum acre, Sedum kamtschaticum, Sedum spurium, Sedum reflexum, Sedum sexangulare, Dianthus deltoides, Dianthus carthusianorum, and Thymus vulgaris. The open air model experiment was run for 319 days, from March 2015 to February 2016. The total water runoff from the green roof model amounted to 43.3% of runoff from the reference roof. The only one runoff event polluted with phosphorus was connected with the outflow of melted snow from an unfreezing green roof model.

The results of analysis of adventive species of the Crassulaceae family from different regions of the Earth are presented. The highest number of alien and naturalized species of Crassulaceae is found in Australia (approximately 50 species). Most of these species grow in New Zealand, North America, and Europe. There are known cases of wild Crassulaceae in Eastern Europe. The following species of Crassulaceae were identified in this region as adventive: Phedimus spurious, Ph. crenatus, Ph. stoloniferus, Sedum reflexum, S. forsterianum, S. lineare, S. sexangulare (wild in western regions of Eastern Europe and naturalized in Izhevsk and others), Hylotelephium erythrostictum, Aizopsis hybrida, A. kamtschatica, Sempervivum tectorum, and others. Data on naturalization of Sedum album L. and Hylotelephium spectabile appeared recently. Our studies showed that, at present, Sedum reflexum is most actively naturalized in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Most adventive Crassulaceae can be considered as neophytes or colonophytes (rarely ephemerophytes).

Recent years have seen increasing interest in indirect genetic effects, i.e. influences on the phenotype that depend on the genotype of other conspecific individuals; however, the empirical evidence for such effects is still limited, especially in wild plant species. The present study of the clonal herb Sedum album assessed direct and indirect genetic effects on performance-related traits in a 4-year experiment with clonally replicated genotypes, grown in pairs and differing in anthocyanin pigmentation to allow separation of individuals during data collection. In agreement with the existence of indirect genetic effects, the experimentally-paired plants not only expressed their own genotype but were also affected by the genotype of their pair mate. The effect of neighbour genotype explained up to one-fourth of the variation in performance and most likely resulted from competition, imposed by the close physical contact between paired individuals and the limiting conditions used in the garden environment. Indirect genetic effects from competition have the potential to enhance the efficacy of group-level selection relative to individual selection, given the nutrient-poor and spatially-confined substrate available to plants of S. album in the natural habitat.

Resume Espece montagnarde, protegee par la Convention de Washington (Cites), Parnassius apollo , l'Apollon, est en regression ou eteint dans beaucoup de massifs montagneux europeens. La definition des facteurs ecologiques, en particulier trophiques, qui conditionnent son maintien est importante pour mettre au point des mesures de conservation. Oligophage, la chenille de l'apollon consomme diverses especes de Crassulacees. Les resultats d'observations et d'experiences sur les preferences de ponte des femelles et la valeur trophique de diverses plantes sont exposes ici. Les deux especes les plus frequemment citees comme plantes nourricieres, Sedum album et S. maximum , se sont revelees les plus efficaces. D'autres especes de Crassulacees frequemment mentionnees ont ete refusees ; une autre, acceptee, a assure un succes mediocre a l'elevage. Une comparaison avec d'autres cas de specificite trophique chez les Lepidopteres est effectuee et les implications de ces resultats dans les mesures de conservation sont discutees.

The antioxidative protection during the C3-CAM shift induced by water stress was investigated in the temperate succulent Sedum album L. The C3-CAM shift was characterized in terms of CO2 exchange, titratable acidity and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. Well-watered plants displayed C3-like patterns of gas exchange and exhibited a mild day-night acid fluctuation indicating that those plants were performing CAM-cycling metabolism. Imposed drought highly stimulated CAM cycling, decreasing the net CO2 uptake during the day, eliminating net CO2 efflux at night and stimulating tissue acid fluctuations. As water deficit developed, chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed a decrease in the Fv/Fm ratio, indicating that photoinhibition could follow after severe drought. Protection might be performed by the increased activity of enzymes involved in the destruction of free radicals and oxidants, but their response depended on the water status of the plant. Ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities increased in plants subjected to mild stress but declined during severe water stress. Catalase activity, however, was quite stable under mild water stress and was clearly inhibited under severe water stress. At this stage, glutathione reductase and monodehydroascorbate reductase seemed to be very important in the protection against oxidants, both increasing considerably their activities under severe water stress. Even if recycling has been shown to alleviate photoinhibition, our results clearly demonstrate that antioxidative enzymes play an important role in the protection of plants from oxidants during the C3-CAM shift induced by water stress.

In March 1999 five seed-mixtures were sown on a shallow substrate bed on a roof near Bernburg. The aim was to study the effect of adding annuals, or cuttings of several sedum-species, respectively, instead of the usual high percentage of grassseeds, in order to optimise the coverage and density, even without a high amount of grasses in the first and second year after sowing. A second factor involved two different fertilisers. Only on fertilized plots in the second year was a covering rate > 60% achieved. The influence of fertilizer in the second year was substantially larger than the effect of the seed-mixtures. Suitable annuals were Gypsophila elegans, Iberis amara, Silene armeria and Xeranthemum annuum, which were able to form aspects in the first year. Gypsophila elegans provided a stable population in the second year. Even without increasing the coverage significantly, it is highly recommended as an addition to seed mixtures because of its flowering aspect. The trial confirms the importance of fertilisation on shallow-substrate roof-gardens. Cuttings of Sedum album, S. sexangulare and S. reflexum can reach high coverage relatively fast, but on larger areas involve higher costs. Even a relatively low addition of 10 g/m2 Sedum to seed mix can result in a significant effect and reduce the proportion of grasses, if fertilised even in the first vegetation period after sowing. INTRODUCTION According to guidelines from the “Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau e.V.“ (FLL, Research association of landscape development and landscape construction) green roofs need to demonstrate a covering of more than 60% in order to be approved (FLL 1995). To achieve this in the shortest time possible, mostly high percentages of grasses, especially Festuca ovina agg. are mixed into the seed compositions. Their rapid growth unfortunately leads to a rather poor flowering aspect because of the low presence of forbs. On a roof garden near Bernburg (SachsenAnhalt;), a central German drought area, a comparative sowing trial was tried to answer the following questions: 1. Can seed mixes with less grasses but additions of annuals or Sedum cuttings respectively optimise the coverage in the 1 and 2 year after sowing? and; 2. What is the effect of fertilisation on these seed mixtures? MATERIALS AND METHODS Research was conducted on the roof of a garden-shelter occupying an area of 42 m2 in a private garden near Bernburg (ca. 480 mm average annual rainfall). The site comprised the following construction profile: basic drain layer (3 cm): shredded styrofoam, filter layer: filter fleece, 90g/m2, and substrate (7 cm): expanded slate (8/16, 80%) + Perlite (15%) + Flora-roof-substrate (5%). The roof had a 10% slope northward. There were twenty plots, each measuring 2 m2 for 10 variations in 2 repetitions. The trail was irrigated only in 1999 every two weeks in dry periods. The basic mix was Roofgarden according to the seed producing company “RiegerH and the trail involved 17 annual species, and cuttings from 5 Sedum species. Treatments were: A1: 2g basic mix –original, A2: 1g basic mix (without annuals and grasses) + 1g grasses, Proc. IC on Urban Horticulture Eds: R. Junge-Berberovic et al. Acta Hort 643, ISHS 2004 302 A3: 1.8g basic mix (without annuals and grasses) + 0.5g annuals (about 40 seeds each species) + 0.2g grasses, A4: 0.35g basic mix (without annuals and grasses) + 0.15g grasses + 100 g Sedumcuttings, A5: 1g basic mix (without annuals and grasses) + 1g grasses + 0.5 g annuals and + 50 g Sedum-cuttings. A list of all species is published in Kircher (2002). Seeding date was in week 13/1999. In the case of fertilisation the treatments were: B1: 1999: without fertiliser, week 17/2000: 4 g N/m2 as Osmocote Plus 5-6M (15:10:12:2), B2: week 18/1999: 10 g N/m2 as Nitrophoska permanent (15:9:15:2), week 17/2000: 10 g N/m2 as Osmocote Plus 5-6M (15:10:12:2). Compared with the recommendations of Fischer & Jauch (2001) and Kolb (2002) a relatively high dosage of fertiliser was chosen, because annuals as R-strategists (Grime 1986) grow naturally on disturbed sites with high availability of nutrients, in particular nitrogen. The degree of coverage (%), number of individuals and height (cm) of each germinated species were estimated or counted on the 28.07.99 and 31.05.00. Obviously dead plants were not evaluated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Overall Coverage Mixes with annuals as well as with blends of Sedum-cuttings showed distinctly higher coverage rates than variant A1. On all fertilised plots – except variant A1 – in the second year a coverage rate of > 60% was reached. The influence of fertilising in the second year is more significant than that of species composition. There was a distinct lower coverage of the plots sown with basis-mix without annuals or Sedum-cuttings (A1). Grasses and Forbs The grasses Festuca ovina and F. pallens appeared to dominate. Amongst the forbs Petrorhagia saxifraga was the most successful. Dianthus, Silene and Thymus species, as well as Anthemis tinctoria germinated well, but most of the seedlings were eliminated during the first summer through drought. Some Allium schoenoprasum seedlings became recognisable in the third year after sowing. The other species appeared not to be able to withstand the extreme stress caused by drought. Annuals Only Gypsophila elegans, Iberis amara, Silene armeria and Xeranthemum annuum made reasonable plants in the first vegetation period, but without a significant contribution to increased coverage. Erodium cicutarium, a native R-strategist in poor drymeadows was inconspicuous. The same applied to Arenaria serpyllifolia, which germinated in large numbers, but visually remained in the background because of its low growth. However it did maintain its presence even into the third year on the roof. Though Iberis amara and Xeranthemum annuum germinated well they didn’t reach suitable heights for flowering. Silene armeria was only found in few specimens, but was able to produce attractive flowers on the fertilised plots. Gypsophila elegans surprised with stable populations even in the second year. Despite not seriously contributing to a higher coverage, its flowering in autumn enriched the visual effect. The effect of fertilising to the appearance of the annuals was unexpectedly low. With Gypsophila the low fertilised plots of the second year had better ratings. Sedum-Cuttings Sedum floriferum 'Weihenstephaner Gold' and S. hybridum 'Immergrunchen' did not grow, and S. forsteranum hardly succeeded at all. Several cuttings were blown off by

Epicuticular waxes from 30 species of Sedum and 2 species of Sempervivoideae, i.e. Aeonium spathulatum and Sempervivum nevadense , have been analysed by GC and GC-MS. The Sedum taxa examined were S. acre , S. album , S . series Alpestria (13 species), S. anglicum , S. brevifolium , S. litoreum , S. lydium , S . series Macaronesia (four species), S. melanantherum and S . series Rupestria (five species) of S . sect. Sedum and S. meyeri-johannis of S . sect. Africana . The waxes consist of alkanes, alkanols, fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, aldehydes, wax esters and triterpenes. Some 14 triterpenes were detected in waxes of Sedum , the major triterpenes being β-amyrenyl acetate, germanicyl formate (not previously reported from a natural source), multiflorenyl acetate and taraxeryl acetate. Waxes of the pruinose and glaucous taxa of Sedum were found to have a high triterpene content. In waxes of Aeonium spathulatum and Sempervivum nevadense , no triterpenes could be detected. Variation in the alkane and triterpene profiles proved to be of significant systematic value. In general, the distribution of the triterpenes in Sedum agrees with the infrageneric classification based on hybridization patterns and related morphological characters.

A clone bank of chloroplast DNA (cpDNa) of Sedum album (Crassulaceae) covering the entire chloroplast genome was constructed using the restriction endonucleases Sacl, Hindlll and Pstl. It represents the first complete clone bank of cpDNA from a species of the order Rosales. A restriction site map of S. album cpDNA for these three enzymes was constructed by means of heterologous hybridization. The cpDNA of S. album shows similarity in size and physical organization to the chloroplast genome of most angiosperms. It was found to be a circular molecule of 148.5±1 kb, containing an inverted repeat region of 25 kb. Restriction site conservation was observed within the inverted repeats of the species Sedum album and Lectuca sativa for the restriction enzymes Hindlll and Sacl.

Sedum album Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 432. 1753. "Habitat in Europae petris." RCN: 3356. Lectotype (Chamberlain in Davis, Fl. Turkey 4: 233. 1972): Herb. Clifford: 177, Sedum 6 (BM-000628578). Current name: Sedum album L. (Crassulaceae). Note: See Fr��derstr��m (in Acta Horti Gothob. 7, Suppl.: pl. XLII, f. 1-3. 1931). 't Hart & Jarvis (in Taxon 42: 401. 1993) provided a detailed discussion of the typification of this name, concluding that Clifford material should be the lectotype. However, the typification itself is correctly attributable to Chamberlain., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part S), pp. 806-877 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 835, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971

Aqueous extracts of the intercellular fluid from Sedum album L. leaves generated singlet oxygen chemiluminescence at 1270 nm when exposed to a nitrogen gas stream containing ozone at 21 +/- 2 ppm. The concentration of ascorbic acid in the intercellular fluid extracts was 310 +/- 40 microM. The intensity of the singlet oxygen chemiluminescence from the intercellular fluid extracts was comparable with the chemiluminescence from a control solution containing 300 microM ascorbic acid. The intensity of the singlet oxygen emission from intercellular fluid treated with ascorbate oxidase was 0.19 +/- 0.07 of the intensity of the singlet oxygen chemiluminescence from untreated samples of intercellular fluid extract. The simplest explanation for the effect of ascorbate oxidase is that ascorbic acid is the major ozone target generating singlet oxygen. Much weaker singlet oxygen chemiluminescence was detected at 1270 nm when intact S. album L. plant tips were exposed to a nitrogen gas stream containing ozone at 22 +/- 5 ppm. Various explanations for the relatively low intensity of the singlet oxygen chemiluminescence from intact S. album L. plant tips are discussed.