Sedum paradisum ( Denton 1978: 236 ) Denton ex B. L. Wilson subsp. paradisum

Zika, Peter F., Wilson, Barbara L., Brainerd, Richard E., Otting, Nick, Darington, Steven, Knaus, Brian J. & Nelson, Julie Kierstead, 2018, A review of Sedum section Gormania (Crassulaceae) in western North America, Phytotaxa 368 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

12a. Sedum paradisum ( Denton 1978: 236) Denton ex B. L. Wilson subsp. paradisum . Figs. 8D , 9D–E , 16C–D , 39 .

Additional specimens examined: — UNITED STATES. CALIFORNIA. Shasta County : Bollibokka Mountain , 1160 m, 15 June 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren LL-1 ( OSC) ; South Fork Mountain , 975 m, 15 June 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-1 ( HSC, JEPS, WTU) ; same site, 20 June 2011, Lindstrand III LL-3 ( HSC, OSC, UC, WTU) ; Bagley Mountain , 1320 m, 8 July 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-05 ( BH, CAS, DAV, WS) ; Shoeinhorse Mountain , 1585 m, 8 July 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-06 ( F, GH, HSC, WTU) ; Tombstone Mountain , 1495 m, 12 July 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-07 ( KANU, MO, NY) ; Bald Mountain , 1370 m, 12 July 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-08 ( CAS, JEPS, RENO, RSA, SOC, UBC, US, WS) ; W of Grizzly Peak , 1760 m, 14 July 2011, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-09 ( BH, F, GH, NY, US) ; ridgeline above headwaters of Fall Creek , 1220 m, 18 June 2012, Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-10 ( DAV) ; above headwaters of Fall Creek , 1220 m, 18 June 2012, Lindstrand III NSR-13 ( WTU) ; Satin Peak , 1365 m, 6 July 2011, Van Susteren & Youngblood NSR-03 ( UBC, WTU) ; Beetle Butte , 1310 m, 7 July 2011, Van Susteren & Youngblood NSR-04 ( JEPS, US) ; Red Mountain , 1645 m, 6 July 2012, Engstrom 1 ( OSC) ; headwaters Little S Fork Dog Creek , 1035 m, 20 June 2012, Lindstrand III NSR-11 ( CAS, DAV, HSC, NY, RSA) ; Schell Mountain , 1340 m, 18 June 2012, Lindstrand III NSR-16 ( JEPS, UBC, US) ; SW of Sugarloaf Lookout , 1100 m, 5 July 2011, Van Susteren NSR-02 ( RENO, RSA, WTU) ; Hawkins Creek , 790 m, 17 June 2011, Wilson et al. CWG-01 ( BH, CAS, DAV, F, WTU) ; Deer Creek , 760 m, 17 June 2011, Wilson et al. CWG-02 ( GH, WTU) ; McCloud Reservoir dam, 815 m, 17 June 2011, Wilson 16526 et al. ( NY) ; same site, 23 June 2012, Zika 25924 ( JEPS, WTU) . Trinity County: Underwood Mountain Road, 1235 m, 7 June 2012, Brainerd 2032 & Otting ( OSC, WTU) ; N of Dedrick , 1090 m, 17 June 1977, Denton 4098 ( WTU) ; Stuart Fork of Trinity River , 1980– 2225 m, 25 July 1937, J. T. Howell 13503 ( GH) ; Butter Creek , 4 June 2012, J. K. Nelson 12-1 ( OSC) ; Canyon Creek Trail, 915 m, 1 July 1949, Balls 13766 ( RSA, WTU) ; same site, 29 June 2011, Spooner et al. RS-28 ( OSC, STNF, UC) ; same site, 23 June 2011, Stubbs et al. RS-02; same site, 23 June 2011, Vollmann et al. RS-02 ( GH, KNFY, OSC, STNF, WTU) ; Canyon Creek Wilderness, 1935 m, 4 July 2014, Otting 3820 ( NY, RSA, UBC) ; Hayfork Bally Lookout , 1780 m, 18 July 2011, Vollmann & Stubbs RS-32 ( OSC, WTU) ; Glennison Gap , 1150 m, 18 June 2011, Wilson et al. CWG-03 ( KANU) ; road to Hobo Gulch , 1175 m, 18 June 2011, Wilson et al. CWG-04 ( MO) ; NE of Friend Mountain , 1260 m, 22 June 2012, Zika 25920 & J. K. Nelson ( CAS, HSC, OSC) ; SSE of Grassy Mountain , 1265 m, 22 June 2012, Zika 25921 & J. K. Nelson ( RSA, WTU) ; Eagle Rock , 6 July 2011, Stubbs RS-28b ( WTU) ; Trinity Alps Wilderness , 1720 m, 4 July 2014, Otting 3816 ( MO, “ SRNF ”) .

Distribution and ecology: — Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum was endemic to Shasta and Trinity Counties, California, at elevations of (235–) 1605–2005 m ( Fig. 37 ). It favored rocky slopes, ridges, outcrops, and cliffs. The underlying bedrock was usually not serpentine. Its northern limit was within the redefined Klamath Ranges ecoregion ( Baldwin et al. 2012, Lindstrand III et al. 2016, Jepson eFlora 2017). A single extant population (Red Mountain, Engstrom s.n.) was recorded from the Cascade Range Highlands ecoregion (Jepson eFlora 2017), near its border with the Klamath Ranges ecoregion in Shasta Co. , California, and may represent relatively recent colonization. This Sedum was considered rare ( Nakamura & Nelson 2001), but in recent years was found on numerous rarely-visited peaks. It had a limited range and was uncommon, but not rare.

Notes:— Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum ( Fig. 39 ) had tight to moderately tight rosettes. The rosette leaves were often flat gray or lead-colored, sometimes with green or pinkish tones. Young fertile shoots typically remained erect and straight throughout development. The stem leaves were gray or pink to reddish, and were elliptic to oblong, relatively long, and did not significantly decrease in length near the inflorescence. The sepals were usually 50–80% as long as the petals. The petals were obtuse to acute and cream-colored to white or, especially in the western edge of the range, light yellow. They senesced to a pale dull orange or faint pink. The fresh anthers were yellow to light orange or pale red, aging to white, brown, or dark red.

The relatively long sepals and elongate upper stem leaves helped distinguish Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum from S. oregonense and S. flavidum . The dull gray foliage, ascending petals, and erect young fertile shoots provided distinctions from S. sanhedrinum . The separation of taxa within S. paradisum is discussed under subsp. subroseum .

Hybrids: —Putative Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum hybrids were found at two sites ( Table 4). One was the mouth of Swede Creek near its confluence with the Trinity River. Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum and some odd-looking putative hybrids were present (Wilson et al. CWG-05). Sedum flavidum occurred there in the past but declined and was ultimately lost from the site within the last 40 years (Darington, pers. obs.). At the highly disturbed Underwood Mountain quarry, S. paradisum subsp. paradisum was present with some atypical, possibly hybrid plants (Brainerd & Otting CWG-102b). Plants approaching S. flavidum also occurred in the quarry (Darington, pers. obs.).

Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum , S. kiersteadiae , and S. oregonense all occurred in the Canyon Creek drainage in northern Trinity County. Many plants there were difficult to identify. There was a considerable elevational and geological gradient, and related differences in phenology, which made it difficult to compare populations. We were not sure if some plants appear intermediate due to hybridization, unusual morphological variation, or if there are other factors. Answers will require repeated visits to the area in a single season, so populations can be examined at peak flowering times.

Possible hybrid specimens examined:— UNITED STATES. CALIFORNIA. Trinity County: Swede Creek , 355 m, 17 June 2011, Wilson et al. CWG-05 ( OSC) ; same site, 7 June 2012, Brainerd & Otting CWG-101 ( OSC) ; Underwood Mountain Road, 1235 m, 7 June 2012, Brainerd & Otting CWG-102b ( OSC) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. The central basal flower in a cyme was the largest and opened first.A. Sedum albomarginatum, Plumas Co., California (Zika 25865). B. Sedum citrinum, Del Norte Co., California (Zika 26201). C. Sedum laxum subsp. laxum, Del Norte Co. (Zika 25927). D. Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum, Shasta Co., California (Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-01). E. Sedum patens, Del Norte Co. (Zika 26609 & Brainerd).

FIGURE 9. The sepals were short compared to the length of fresh petals in most species. In all species the sepals elongated after anthesis, as the petals wilted. A–C. Relatively short sepals in early anthesis. A. Sedum citrinum, Del Norte Co., California (Zika 26193). B. Sedum oregonense, Jackson Co., Oregon (Zika 25666 & Wilson). C. Sepals elongating post-anthesis, Sedum oblanceolatum, Siskiyou Co., California (Zika 25650A). D–F. Relatively long sepals in early anthesis. D–E. Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum. D. Shasta Co., California (Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-8). E. Trinity Co., California (Zika 25920 & J.K. Nelson). F. Sedum paradisum subsp. subroseum, Sierra Co., California (Zika 26279).

FIGURE 16. Some taxa occasionally produced paler flowers in cultivation.A–B. Sedum laxum subsp. laxum. A. Pink petals, wild plants, Del Norte Co., California (Zika 25927). B. Fresh white petals with faint pink background, turning darker pink with age, cultivated, from Josephine Co., Oregon (Zika 25487). C–D. Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum, Shasta Co., California. C. Yellowish petals, fading pinkish-orange, wild plants (Zika 25924). D. White petals, cultivated (Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-07).

FIGURE 37. Distribution of Sedum obtusatum, S. oregonense, S. paradisum subsp. paradisum, S. paradisum subsp. subroseum, based on verified herbarium specimens.

FIGURE 39. Sedum paradisum subsp. paradisum. A. Habit, showing dense rosettes, uniformly elongated stem leaves, the pre-flowering inflorescences erect, Trinity Co., California (Wilson et al. CWG-03). B–C. Cylindrical inflorescences, uniformly elongated stem leaves, Trinity Co. B. Wilson et al. CWG-03. C. Spooner et al. RS-28. D. Flat-topped inflorescence, Shasta Co., California (Wilson et al. CWG- 02). E–H. Flowers. Sepals relatively long; variation in flower color, petals ascending, acute, pale yellow to white or orange-pink; anthers yellow, orange, or reddish. E. Trinity Co. (Zika 25921 & J.K. Nelson). F–H. Shasta Co. F. Lindstrand III NSR–16. G. Zika 25924. H. Lindstrand III & Van Susteren NSR-01.