Annual Herb
General Description: This plant is small and succulent. Normally it grows to 0.75in (12cm) tall. The succulent leaves are up to 0.5in (12mm) and are cylindrical and overlapping. This plant is often confused with "red moss" or Elf Orpine (Sedum smallii) which is abundant on most granite outcrops and has uniformly red leaves. The differences are only slight. Sedum pusillum is the larger of the two species and has bluish-green leaves, sometimes with with tinges of red. Sedum pusillum has small white flowers, consisting of four petals that are 0.1in (2-3mm) long. The fruit is the most distinguishing feature.
Sedum smallii fruit opens by a small flap on the underside, whereas S. pusillum opens by a slit on the topside. The fruit is a follicle, 0.1-0.2in (3-5mm) long, and opens by a longitudinal suture facing upward. The flowering period is from March through April and the fruiting period is from April through May. Currently listed as Federal Candidate Species.
General Habitat: Found growing among lichens in partial shade under large, open-grown eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) trees on granitic outcrops.
