Sedum lanceolatum. Synonym: Amerosedum lanceolatum. (Yellow Stonecrop). 
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine, alpine. Rock, gravel openings. Summer.
Mesa Verde National Park, Prater Ridge Trail, June 3, 2004 and
Boggy Draw Trail, August 1, 2016.

The rich maroons and yellows of Yellow Stonecrop are easily spotted, for whether in the foothills or alpine, the plant commonly grows on open rock and gravel thriving in full sunlight and heat.

The tiny, bulbous-looking, red-purple fleshy leaves appear at first to be some scattered bits of fungus. Basil and stem leaves are about the same size and shape, appressed, and generally round in cross-section.

The plant elongates to about four inches and is topped by bright yellow buds and then flowers.

The Sedum genus was named by Linnaeus in 1753, and this species was moved to the genus Amerosedum by Löve in 1985. That move is rejected by almost all botanists. Edwin Greene collected the first specimens of this species for science in the Pikes Peak area of Colorado in 1820 and John Torrey named this plant Sedum lanceolatum in 1827. However, Meriwether Lewis collected this species June 5, 1806 in Idaho near Kamiah. Click to read why Lewis' collection is not considered the type.

"Amerosedum" means "American Sedum" and "lanceolatum" describes the leaf shape, lance-like, i.e., broader at the bottom and tapering gradually and evenly to a point  --  although leaves can also be elliptic to ovate. "Sedum" is from the Latin "sedo", "to sit," and refers to the fact that some species attach themselves to stones. The common name, "Stonecrop", could have one of several archaic word meanings: these Sedums are "the crop produced by stones" or they are "the top [i.e. the "crop"] of the stones".

Sedum lanceolatum. (Yellow Stonecrop). Synonym: Amerosedum lanceolatum.
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine, alpine. Rock, gravel openings. Summer.
Prairie Dog Knoll Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 25, 2004.

This is the hiker's view looking down on the tiny dots of maroon and brilliant flares of yellow. (The top center yellow flowers with eight notched petals and fine green leaves are Asteraceae, Tetraneuris ivesiana).

Sedum lanceolatum.  Synonym: Amerosedum lanceolatum. (Yellow Stonecrop).
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine, alpine. Rock, gravel openings. Summer.
Prairie Dog Knoll Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 25, 2004.

Sedum lanceolatum.  Synonym: Amerosedum lanceolatum. (Yellow Stonecrop).
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine, alpine. Rock, gravel openings. Summer.
Mesa Verde National Park, Prater Ridge Trail, June 3, 2004.

Sedum lanceolatum. Synonym: Amerosedum lanceolatum. (Yellow Stonecrop).
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine, alpine. Rock, gravel openings. Summer.
Prairie Dog Knoll Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, July 10, 2007.

Even as the flowers die, they have a special, ragged beauty.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Sedum lanceolatum