Publication: Phytotaxa 227(2): 138. 2015 [23 Sep 2015] [epublished], as ‘rupi-melitense’
Description
Sedum album subsp. rupimelitense (rupi-melitense) is one of the morphological or local forms of Sedum album from Malta (Maltese Islands). The subsp. rupimelitense “differ from previously known S. album plants in having very rarely formed inflorescences mostly without peduncular leaves and floral bracts, flowers in which (3–)5 stamens of one whorl, mostly of the antepetalous one, have dysfunctional and often abortive anthers and only the stamens of the other whorl having 5, dark maroon to blackish-brown, mostly indehiscent anthers at anthesis, pollen which is partly deformed and shrivelled, carpels without nectary scales, and fruits and seeds which remain undeveloped and sterile. The Maltese plants have apparently switched from generative to almost exclusively vegetative reproduction and are described as a new endemic subspecies” [1].
Origin and Habitat
Malta. This species is found along the cliffs of Malta, more or less from il-Qaws to wied Moqbol.
Type locality: Misraħ Għar Daqquq (close to Ġebel Ciantar), Fawwara, Siġġiewi, on the edge of coastal cliffs of upper coralline limestone, 200 m.
Habitat and ecology: Sedum album subs. rupimelitense is unique in many ways, but it only grows up to 30 metres from the cliff edge, and lost its sexual reproduction.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Stephen Martin Mifsud, Ray Stephenson, Joachim Thiede “Sedum album subsp. rupi-melitense (Crassulaceae), a new vegetatively reproducing subspecies from Malta (Maltese Islands, Central Mediterranean)” Phytotaxa 227(2): 138. 2015 [23 Sep 2015] http://www.crassulaceae.ch/uploads/files/pdf/Sedum/MaltaSedum\_FinalProof-Sep2015\_2.pdf
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Sedum album subsp. rupi-melitense in: International Crassulaceae Network http://www.crassulaceae.ch/de/artikel?akID=182&aaID=2&aiID=A&aID=5013
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