GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots relocated to Germany at the end of November 2009, where she will (hopefully) write a book while continuing to write her blog and providing much hilarity to the natives by learning to speak German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your organization or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below).
tags: Daisy, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Biting (Goldmoss) Stonecrop, Sedum acre, also known as the Wall-pepper.
Helsinki mystery flower, can you identify this?
Photographed as I walked to Tarvaspää Café at the Gallen-Kallela Museum
near Tarvon Salmi in Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 2 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This isn't the best picture I've ever taken, but I hope it's good enough that you can identify the plant.
Stonecrop is a succulent herb that includes perhaps 600 species -- mostly in the North Temperate Zone. Many make excellent garden subjects, but they are usually not found in most nursery centers and are only available from the various rock garden societies. The genus name is from the ancient Latin term, sedere, "to sit," referring to their low-spreading habit or possibly from sedere, "to quiet," alluding to their supposed sedative properties.
Sedum acre ("biting stonecrop") contains high quantities of piperidine alkaloids [namely (+)-sedridine, (-)-sedamine, sedinone and isopelletierine] which give it a sharp, peppery and acrid taste and make it somewhat toxic. Depending on the amount consumed, it may cause irritations of the mucous membranes, cramps, paralysis, and respiratory paralysis. In ancient Greece, Sedum acre was used to treat epilepsy and skin disease, as well as inducing miscarriage.
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Comments
I'm not sure of Finnish species, but it looks like a Stonecrop, possibly Sedum acre,known as Bitter Stonecrop a member of the crassulacaea family. Hope this helps.
Posted by: Adrian | September 5, 2009 4:28 PM
thank you! you are correct!
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | September 5, 2009 5:06 PM