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

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

The rich maroons and yellows of Yellow Stonecrop are easily spotted, for 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. They elongate to about four inches and are topped by bright yellow buds and then flowers.

The Sedum genus was named by Linnaeus in 1753, and was renamed Amerosedum by Love in 1985.   Edwin Greene collected the first species for science in the Pikes Peak area of Colorado in 1820 and John Torrey named this plant Sedum lanceolatum in 1827.  "Amerosedum" means "American Sedum" and "lanceolatum" describes the leaf shape.

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

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

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

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

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

Synonym: Amerosedum lanceolatum.  Sedum 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.